Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Soul Calibur.
Chapter Eight: Dying Sparrow
Ookami opened her eyes slowly the morning after the full moon. She rolled the wolf pelt off of her and turned to Siegfried. They decided to share a den with each other the night before. He was sleeping peacefully and breathing quietly. She smiled softly and went down to kiss his forehead. He didn't move and continued to sleep.
The she-warrior stood up and stretched. She placed the wolf pelt over her beloved and exited her den. She walked up the stone steps of the cavern to the mouth of the cave. She looked at the sun. Hardly a cloud in sight. She grinned and walked out of the cave.
"What a beautiful morning," She yawned as she walked through the dew-covered grass. The trees were green and the leaves were growing large. The birds were already chirping and the butterflies were moving about the flowers of the forest. This was the forest her mother, the great queen Keita, knew before her death.
Ookami chuckled as a small leaf blew past her and tickled her nose. Then, she froze up. She looked up at the sky, her eyes wide. She took a large gasp and began coughing violently, the way she has been the past few times. This hasn't happened in a while, why was it acting up again?
Ookami continued to cough and gasp. She staggered over to a tree and leaned against that. She placed a hand on her throat and one over her mouth. The girl then felt someone warm come out of her mouth. She opened her eyes and looked at what came out of her mouth. It was blood…
"No…" Ookami said breathlessly, shaking her head in disbelief. "This…this can't be…"
She took another gasp and began coughing again. But when she was finished this time, her eyes rolled and she fell onto the forest floor, a stream of blood coming from her mouth.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Where is she," Sappho said, pacing about the cavern. "Usually at this time she is catching more fresh kill."
"Maybe today's the day when you get off of your lazy butt and catch it yourself," Teranika said as she batted piece of hay with her tail.
"Yeah, you seem to be losing your fighting form," Morag added jokingly.
Sappho rolled her eyes at the dragon's comment.
"But Sappho does have a point," Kallias said. "Mistress Ookami usually is back by now."
"Is the human still sleeping?" Morag asked.
"Yes," Kallias said. "He must've had a busy night with the mistress last night."
Sappho let out a small chuckle. "I'm sure he did…"
Delano, the elderly horse, walked out of his den. He shook his pelt, getting all the moss and hay off of his dark body. He yawned and walked up the steps.
"I need to go fetch some herbs," Delano said, still half-asleep. "Do any of you care to join me?"
"I will," Sappho said eagerly. "It's so boring here without Siegfried up."
"I guess I will too," Teranika said getting up. "Someone needs to keep an eye on Sappho."
Sappho narrowed her eyes at Teranika.
"Will you keep watch for Ookami?" Morag asked. "She wasn't in her den."
Delano nodded. "Of course."
"Have fun!" Kallias said cheerfully. "Don't do anything stupid."
"Will do," Delano said, bowing his head. He walked up the stone steps. Teranika and Sappho followed after him. "Take care!"
"May the spirit of Keita be with you!" Morag called after them as the trio exited the cavern.
Delano leaded the way as they walked through the forest. The sun was a little bit higher and clouds were growing thickly and quickly around it. Delano lifted his head and sniffed the air.
"We're going to have a rain pretty soon," He muttered. "We better do this and find Ookami quickly."
"Can't Teranika just sniff out Mistress Ookami's path?" Sappho asked. "She has the best sense of smell and she can probably find her that way."
Teranika lifted her head proudly after Sappho's surprisingly nice comment. Delano nodded his head.
"Yes, she could do that," He answered. He looked at the wolf spirit. "Teranika, can you sniff out Ookami's path?"
Teranika dipped her head. "Yes, I can."
"Good. Finding the mistress will be our first priority. Along the way, we can get herbs."
Teranika walked past Delano with her nose in the air, sniffing the air for her master. Her ears moved around her head, picking up any sound that may help. Then, the wolf's ears perked forward and she looked at her comrades.
"This way!"
Teranika bolted straight forward. Delano and Sappho followed after the wolf. Even for his age, the horse could still keep pace with his younger companions.
The trio ran through the forest, leaping over fallen trees and bushes. At the base of a tree, there was a body, lying still. Teranika stopped in front of the body. Delano and Sappho stopped behind her. The body's back was facing them. Teranika used her muzzle to turn the body onto its back. Then, the animal spirits eyes widened when they found out who it was. It was Ookami.
A streak of blood came from her mouth. Delano pushed Teranika back and sniffed his master. He turned his head to look at the wolf and tiger. His deep brown eyes were filled with worry.
"Sappho, go get Kallias and Morag," Delano instructed the tiger. "If Siegfried is up, put a sleeping spell on him. You know the herbs you need to use for that."
"Y-yes sir," Sappho said, her voice shaking. She turned tail and ran back the way they came.
Delano turned his head to Teranika. "Go get Aideen. He is in his den not too far from here. Do it quickly!"
Teranika nodded curtly and ran deeper into the woods. Delano turned his head back to Ookami. She was breathing, barely.
"Ookami…please wait a little longer," He whispered to her as he placed his soft nose on her shoulder.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sappho had returned with Kallias and Morag not long after Delano sent Sappho out to get them. Rain had begun to fall very hard from the sky. Thankfully, the tree's giant leaves sheltered them from the rain. The four animal spirits were around Ookami's body, trying to keep her still body warm. Teranika still hadn't return with Aideen yet.
"What is taking her so long?" Delano growled. "I know Aideen's den is far, but not that far."
"Just give her a few minutes," Kallias said gently.
"We don't really have a few minutes, Kallias," Delano said.
Then, they heard Teranika's howl. She was near now. The spirits looked straight ahead and saw the white wolf. Behind her was an equally large deer with, instead of the standard two antlers that branch out, a lot of antlers that just stood up straight. He had a proud looking face with a light green streak and two light pink streaks around it that went up the middle of his face.
"That's Aideen?!" Sappho said, astonished by the sight of the legendary healer of the forest. Unlike the other guardians, she has never seen Aideen before.
"Yes…that is," Morag answered.
Aideen was probably the best healer of Alana. He was over 2,000 years old and known for his wisdom about the past. He was the one who also taught Delano about herbs and which were the best for whatever illness.
Teranika stopped in front of guardians and Aideen stood next to her. The four bowed their heads respectfully to the stag.
"Greetings Aideen," Delano greeted softly.
"Greetings Delano and other guardians," Aideen greeted back. His voice was raspy from his old age. He looked past the group and saw Ookami. "Is she the one I'm here for?"
"Yes…" Teranika said, bowing her head respectfully.
"Let me take a look at her," Aideen said as walked towards Ookami. The group parted and moved away, letting the healer do his work.
Seconds past. Soon enough, minutes past and then ten minutes. The rain was not letting up. All the animals could do was wait for what Aideen has to say.
Then, the healer lifted his head and called for the five animals. They could all see the sweat on his brown pelt and the disappointment in his green eyes.
"Everyone…Mistress Ookami is…dying," Aideen said, sorrow in his voice. "The spirit inside of her…it is deteriorating her body and soul."
Everyone's eyes became flooded with sadness as the word "dying" came out of the stag's mouth. Teranika, the normally headstrong wolf, along with Sappho, let out a yowl of anguish. Morag and Kallias were next to each other, shaking their heads in disbelief. Delano walked up to Aideen.
"Is there anything we could do?" He asked, his voice rasping badly.
"You can give her herbs…but that'll only help when she is actually dying," Aideen said.
"How long does she have?" Kallias asked.
"I don't know…but not very long," Aideen said. He looked at Ookami. "She was a noble girl to take up Keita's dying daughter's spirit. But now…it looks like that choice is costing her her life…"
Delano sighed and looked at Aideen. "Thank you. Your wisdom is greatly appreciated."
"It is no problem, Delano," Aideen answered. "I'm sorry I cannot do much more."
"It is alright," Delano said. "I will see you later."
"Merry part," Aideen said as he left. He walked into the rain and went deeper into the forest. The five animal spirits watched the healer walk away before they said anything else.
"Should we tell her when she gets up?" Morag asked.
Delano shook his head. "She mustn't know…And don't tell the boy either. It will be best if they don't know."
"Ookami…" Sappho sighed as she placed her head on Ookami's stomach. "Please…don't leave us. Not now."
"But when the day comes…we'll be by your side," Teranika said softly.
As the five went to their master, the rain continued to pour. But that didn't matter, when they walk Ookami back, it will hide the tears.
