Chapter 16
The news of Inuyasha and company's decision to ascend into the northlands didn't really go over well with Sesshomaru until he learned of his half brother's foolhardy plot to gather recipe ingredients that would let him take on the black-witch tribe…then the elder dog demon became almost numb to the situation. After all, Inuyasha's loss would bring him no tears, and if the half demon, by some miracle, were actually able to win against the blackwings…then there would be a few less witch demons for the dog monarch to concern himself over. Inevitably, he would only gain from Inuyasha's suicidal confidence. As for the rest of his brother's mortal followers Sesshomaru was content to ignore them just as long as they didn't infringe on Shura's training. If any of them did that he would show no mercy.
As for Inuyasha, he still disliked the idea of his niece being subject to his domineering siblings training fancies, however the half demon was becoming confident that she would never assimilate into the demon that was her father. She had volunteered to help during her spare moments after all. And in any case they were traveling in the same direction which meant he could very easily step in and mediate Shura's progress should the need arise.
The following morning the remaining lines of the western dog clan and all their accomplices, demon and mortal alike, started towards the northern territory. The clan brother's travel paths were separate of course, seeing as how, aside from the rivalry issue, their goals in the north were completely different. However this rigidity didn't filter nearly as deeply through the ranks of following friends and allies. Unlike the ill tempered brothers the remaining travelers were not opposed to periodic visits for advise, assistance with their objectives, or simple companionship.
Shura especially held to this ideal in an effort to maintain ties with both dear father and beloved uncle. After a few successive and very long days of travel the she-demon's sporadic trips to visit her half demon kin gradually smoothed out into a predictable routine. Each morning before dawn she would rise and, after taking special care not to wake any sleeping forms, silently join her father in the wilds for training. Though occasionally ah-un or Matyeo would tag along to help with special lessons, most of the time it was just the pair of them. Sesshomaru would lead her to a practice ground, usually incorporating some sort of obstacle course or speed trial on the way, and then once they arrived continue to drill her himself. His lessons were always intense, ranging throughout the day from strength training and combat tactics, to agility and reflexes. But Shura would go through them all, multiple times if necessary, without complaint. Then around sunset the she-demon would leave her father to brood over her progress or lack thereof, and join her uncle and his five friends as they started to make camp. More often then not Matyeo would also join them at the conclusion of his ventures, the little girl Rin sometimes riding proudly atop his shoulders or snuggled sleepily in his folded wings.
Following greetings, the significantly larger gathering would split into various smaller groups to go about the nightly chores and duties of gathering firewood, catching dinner, collecting water, batheing, tailoring clothes, repairing weapons and in some rare instances, squashing an intrusive demon.
When no other tasks remained, human and demon alike would then regroup and settle near the fire to watch the fresh caught meal of fish or game sizzle temptingly over the flames. Then once the meal was done, they would eat and take turns exchanging stories of that day's events and accomplishments.
These nightly gatherings, practical as they were to hear of everyone's status and shed light on the following day's objectives, also came to provide a surprising level of comfort and support. No matter what misfortune or difficulty the day had provided, the cozy campfire atmosphere always managed to lighten everyone's mood. Conversations gradually became more open and as time progressed so did the amount of knowledge regarding everyone's unique personalities and lives.
Matyeo, for all his formalness, actually turned out to have a rather spontaneous and comical nature once he lightened up to the new company. On many a night the dragon did not hesitate to initiate playful mocking teases that eventually set everyone to laughing, including whomever he was joking about. His favorite target, of course was Shura. And though he claimed such was the case only because they were friends and she was "fun to pick on," Shura herself was the only one that actually believed him. For her part Sesshomaru's daughter was never hesitant about returning the dragon's teases with zingers of her own, and she did so with a surprisingly cynical edge that near perfectly matched Inuyasha's. Rin too, proved quite the little talker; often narrating for hours about the many places and demons she'd seen while traveling with Sesshomaru. Though her stories were childish at best she had the type of infectious cuteness that never failed at gaining everyone's attention. In fact the little girl's charm was so endearing that not even the hardheaded Inuyasha could resist cracking a smile when he heard Rin refer to Shura as her beloved "sister."
Following the conclusion of mealtime bonding, Matyeo would quickly look over the items himself and Inuyasha's party had managed to gather. Then after mentally running over the assortment of rare plants, guarded treasures, and various demon parts he would assign new ones to be acquired over the proceeding day or two. Following instructions pertaining to the location of said items, the dragon would then gather the current loot in a sturdy animal-skin travel pouch and bid his farewells for the night. Social creature though he was, the dragon refused to sleep near "innocents," though for what reason he wouldn't mention. Rin and Shura on the other hand would usually opt to remain, Shura for the sake of company, and Rin for the sake of her demon sister. Fatigued from a day of travel, battle and limit- testing endeavors, sleep usually settled quickly upon the assortment of mortal and demon bodies.
That was how the routine went, and it did so very well for a good seven days. Unfortunately, as is so common in quests, such organization and progress was only a fleeting luxury.
It was a cold day, the air thick with the scent of the incoming winter. Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Kagome, Shippo and Kirara were all making slow strides into the perpetually sloping mountain terrine in search of their next item; the claw of a "snow giant." Matyeo had described the beasts as hideous, shaggy coated, ape like monsters and afterwards Kagome was quick to voice the more politically correct name from her era "Yetti's."
During this particular mission the dragon had insisted on accompanying them, and though he said it was only because his elemental strengths would be useful against this particular adversary, the faint note of hesitance in his tone gave a different impression of his motives. The dragon doubted their strength.
Though a majority of the team didn't mind the extra help, Matyeo's lack of confidence immediately set Inuyasha into fuming. The half demon, after all, already had enough problems taking crap like that from his older brother and Naraku. The last thing he needed was Sesshomaru's graduated protégé continuing the trend. And so Inuyasha marched forward, bound and determined to disembowel the first Yetti unfortunate enough to cross his path and then parade with the carcass in front of the snotty dragon's face.
Ironically enough, that's exactly how it went too. Inuyasha readied Tetsusaiga the instant one of the six-foot tall, white ruffed, human/ape figured beasts came into view and promptly split the creature down the center. And he did it all before the dragon's eyes, not even hesitating once, even with Matyeo's distracting shouts from the air above. Then with sword still empowered the half demon cleaved off one of the Yettie's muscular arms at the shoulder and held it up to expose the massive hand and the five, black hooked claws it supported on each finger; all intact.
"Well that wasn't so hard," the half demon boasted further with an emphasized note of arrogance to prove his point. To his surprise however, not only was the dragon unimpressed, he was also furious and terrified.
"Are you insane!" yelled Matyeo as he landed and roughly seized Inuyasha by the front of his kimono "We just needed the claw! Why did you kill it?"
"What is your problem?" roared back an infuriated Inuyasha as he promptly yanked himself free. Though the answer should have been obvious from the profound look of horror currently plastered across the dragon's face.
"You're recklessness is going to get us killed, that's my problem!" Matyeo promptly snapped back. Naturally the rational behind this answer eluded the half demon.
"By what?" he snorted while gesturing with the severed demon arm still in his hand "in case you haven't noticed…the demon is dead." In a rage Matyeo snatched the limb Inuyasha was now waving in his face and from it tore out two of the shimmering black talons.
"Yes and you reek of its blood. So we had better leave before its mother shows up." Mother? Inuyasha raised a quizzical eyebrow.
"That oaf was a Yetti child?" The dragon flashed an angry stare.
"An infant." No sooner had the words faded then a tremendous quake rattled the landscape. It was followed in sequence by another, and another… and they were growing stronger….
"In…Inuyasha…." The half demon heard a stunned Kagome utter in a small voice. She was standing amongst his friends all of whom had frozen in their tracks some five feet from where he and the dragon were currently standing. The girl's stare was wide and fixated on the background Inuyasha currently had his back to. Slowly the half demon turned, his golden eyes falling instant on the disturbance. Peering around the mountainside were two red eyes the size of wrecking balls. They were set amidst a jet black, wrinkled, pugish face surrounded by long, tuffs of fur. The creature sniffed once, puffing out a thick white cloud of condensed moisture. Then its stare shifted from the group of mortals and demons and settled on the mangled body of its newborn.
"uh-oh…" was all the half demon had time to say. For in the next instant the creature's massive head swiveled upwards and its stare rested upon him once more. Slowly the beast's jaws opened exposing, among a glittering row of pointed teeth, a set of four, five-foot long canine fangs. It was the last thing Inuyasha saw before Matyeo yanked him from his feat and a deafening roar from the monster sent all of them into running…