Disclaimer: This story is based on "Inuyasha," copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi. No infringement of copyright intended or implied.
Patrol
Several days earlier…
They shrank beneath Koga's furious gaze, as fixed to the ground as if they'd been chained. "You flea-chewing idiots!" he snarled. "You think this is enough for Amaya's needs?"
"But, we—there just wasn't much game that way," protested Hakkaku.
"And you said be back by dawn," added Ginta.
"No excuses!" Koga roared back. He threw the rabbits aside. "Maybe you'll be better lookouts than hunters—you can take the south border watch for the next moon."
"But—"
"But—"
"Get out !"
Figurative tails between their legs, the two youkai fled.
They were out of sound and scent of the caves before they glanced at each other, mutually slowing to a loping pace they could keep up indefinitely. "What has his tail in such a twist?" muttered Ginta.
"The pups, what else?" Hakkaku rolled his eyes. "What'd you do, sleep through the uproar when Koga smelled Ayame's pregnancy? I thought he was going to wake the ancestors with his howling."
"Oh, yeah." They came to an opening in the woods, paused to scan the sky, then dashed across the meadow, before resuming their lope.
"Maybe we should just stay on patrol, until the pups are here?" asked Ginta.
"Good idea."
A long silence.
"Pups…" muttered Ginta, starting to smile.
"What about pups?"
"Think he'll let us guard them? When they come out of the den?"
"Maybe if he decides we're good enough …"
They looked at each other, hope dawning.
"Let's do it!"
Author's Note: This piece was written for the "Inuyasha's Unsung Heroes" community on LiveJournal, for the prompt "Chained." It was originally published on May 10th, 2011. It took first.