Chapter 14

Intensely Mura readied her staff. The orb within hummed with power as did the three sacred shards. As soon as she attacked the battle would be over…as soon as she attacked…

A spark from out of nowhere ignited on the ground casting an eerie blue flame up from the forest floor. The fire was magic in origin and it spread almost instantaneously in small, concentrated line along the forest floor. The path guiding the fire was the witch's own blood; thanks to her still fizzing gashes there was no shortage of it on the leaf litter…and the source of the spark? Mura stared wide-eyed when she glanced momentarily back along the flame's pathway to its point of origin. The source was a second blood trail…that of her canid daughter! The foreboding fire had started at a single point…the exact spot where the two bloodlines mixed!

Hissing in a panic Mura flapped her wings and tired to back away as the flame surged from the bloody ground to the crimson rivers covering her body. Savagely she whipped at the fire with her free hand, all the while trying desperately to think of a spell that might end the bloodfire. But no incantation came to mind. Mura's thoughts were distracted; first by the silver dog who had seen the strike opportunity and was now hovering precariously closer with each passing moment, and second by a haunting memory she had buried nearly two decades ago.

Mura recalled the meeting with her consul, the day after Sesshomaru had departed from her clan's mountain home. It was during that meeting that the eldest member, a witch experienced beyond all others in shadow reading and prophecy, had given her a warning.

"Be cautious Mura, for your fate…the fate of our tribe lies solely in the hands of the child you will come to bear… I tell you now… if she is born with the guise of a witch…you and our tribe…will become unstoppable. However…if she bears the markings and nature of a hound like her sire…your dynasty will fall, as will you… at her beckoning."

Painting heavily with fright Mura flapped her wings even harder until her body was airborne. The old witch's words pounded in her head with each wingstroke, making her move all the faster. Her daughter, the silver haired dog demon who was currently floating with fangs bared only an arms length away…was destined to kill her! Even the slightest brush with her blood emanated a fiery foreboding that threatened to claim her life! Pushing hard against the wind currents, Mura gradually gained height enough to spread her wings entirely and maneuver more freely. The more distance she put between herself and that silver-mane welp the better… for it was her essence, which fueled the fire. As the flames rapidly diminished the witch found it easier to concentrate and before long she had readied a transport incantation. She chanted it swiftly, just as Sesshomaru's welp lashed out for the kill….

A thick plum of black, smoke appeared in Shura's path an instant before striking, toppling her senses completely off balance. Disoriented and dizzy she abandoned all thoughts of attack and instead focused on reaching a safe landing point without crashing in the process. Coming to rest in the thick branches of the nearest tree, Shura immediately pivoted around ready to retaliate. Her eyes fell on the dispersing smoke, but there was no sign of the demon, or the jewel shards she carried. Growling hatefully Shura hovered to the top of the tree and stood tall from the highest branch, in the hopes that her dragon sight would catch a glint of the retreating shards…

Meanwhile on the ground Inuyasha had taken immediate notice when the barrier that surrounded them had started to flicker unstably. Very carefully he took up his sword, and when no reaction followed empowerment of the blade, attacked the fading barrier. This time there was no resistance; the dome shield dematerialized as did so many others before, and the group promptly scattered, weapons at the ready just in case.

At the same time Sesshomaru, though still a little rattled by Mura's mind hold, had regained enough of his senses to realize Shura's blood signature was heavy in the surrounding air. Scanning the area with keen golden eyes, it didn't take the demon lord long to locate his child; standing poised and alert like a silver statue amidst the thick forest canapé.

"Shura," Sesshomaru called, his voice heavy with fatigue "come down here at once." The she-demon remained motionless except for her ears, which fanned backwards to acknowledge she had in fact heard the command. Despite her father's wishes Shura was not yet ready to give up the hunt. The jewel shards alone were a prime incentive, but even more so…was the hauntingly similar scent that demon had carried. For some reason she couldn't name the creature's presence, her shadowy aura…felt familiar. And she wanted to know why.

"Shura…" the great dog called again, this time his tone much less patient. Sighing in disappointment Shura at last obeyed and hovered to the forest floor. She was met by an unusually quiet gathering, nearly all of whom seemed reluctant to look her in the face.

"Father," Shura finally spoke up with a note that reflected her inner agitation "are you alright? Did that demon hurt you?" in response Sesshomaru shook his head. It wasn't exactly the truth, but seeing as how he still had his sanity, it was an accurate enough reply. In all reality the great dog was not so much concerned with his condition. Gingerly he reached out and with his pointer finger wiped a dab of blood from his daughters wound. As he did so, his expression remained composed and serious, a fact that made the she-demon suddenly hesitant. Unresponsive sternness from the great dog usually meant one of two things, he was distracted in thought and hardly paying attention, or he was brooding with anger. And considering she had disobeyed a direct order by being there…Shura assumed it was most likely the latter.

"I'm sorry I left camp…" Shura began nervously "but I sensed you were in trouble." When Sesshomaru didn't seem to react to her apology, the demoness's voice turned shrill and frantic. "Please forgive me…I never meant to disobey…. I just reacted… out of instinct…"

The demoness's defensive came to a sudden halt when Sesshomaru raised his hand and laid it gently on her head. The gesture surprised Shura who flattened her ears at the touch.

"We should return now, and tend to that wound," instructed the dog lord quietly.

"O…okay…" muttered a stunned Shura in return. Receiving a pat on the head instead of a scolding was far from the reaction she had anticipated, and it made her both relieved and worried in the same instant. Everyone it seemed was acting strangely towards her…but why?

As the pair of demons slowly turned and started back towards camp, a hesitant Inuyasha and crew watched as they left. Close by stood Matyeo, his expression also agitated. Only after Jaken had departed and was well out of earshot did Inuyasha finally get the nerve to address the concern that was no doubt lingering on everyone's mind.

"She doesn't know does she?" his inquiry was soft, almost beyond hearing, but still it managed to reach the dragon's ears.

"No." Matyeo answered quietly in return "but I have a feeling that is about to change."