Authoress here.
As you can tell, I wasn't lying when I said that updates would be few and widely spaced. Thank you for bearing with me. Technically, I should be catching up on Statistics and Composition… but hey, I like to procrastinate. And who needs Statistics anyway?
Earth And Stone
Chapter Two: Whispers of Wreckage
The rumors of a disturbance had traveled quickly through the bird folk. A panicked smell hung in the air, frightening other creatures and causing the dark places of the forest to become more threatening.
San hoisted herself easily into the lower branches of a tall, strong tree, blessing her ability to scale the earthy giants unlike the rest of her wolf kin. She too had noticed the unrest, and was now climbing to visit the court of the Sky Tribe.
As she went, small birds twittered around her, their bright, beady eyes studying her as she labored, chirping quietly and rustling their small feathers. The farther she went, the larger the bids, until she was surrounded by hook-beaked hawks and fierce-eyed eagles. These winged lords sat in silence, regally, among the chattering of their smaller cousins. As San's head finally broke through the ceiling of leaves, each bird fell silent.
"Greetings, Earth-Mistress." The oldest hawk, silver-feathered and doubled over with rheumatism, peered groggily at her as she bowed her head in response. Though his eyes were clouded with age, an intense wisdom echoed in their depths. All of the birds around him regarded him with reverence. There were several treetops filled with fowl; all different sorts of birds from all corners of the forest. San nodded to them as well before speaking to the Sky Lord.
"A few days ago, sparrows from the West alerted me to trouble, Sky Lord." San settled herself more firmly on her perch.
"Indeed, Earth-Mistress. There have been many kills made by a wolf-dog; a half-breed."
"That is not unnatural, Sky Lord." San said, frowning. "Wolf-dogs do behave as such."
"If that were all, Earth-Mistress, I would not have asked you here." The ancient hawk ruffled his neck feathers, puffing himself up in annoyance. "I am no mere eggchick."
San bowed her head again in a silent apology. The bird continued. "The wolf-dog kills and does not eat. He savages the dead and scatters their flesh, but no scrap passes his jaws. His eyes burn with a sickness and his body smells of decay. We believe that the gods have sent another demon into our midst."
San gripped the handle of her knife. "Not another demon! I have heard rumors from the returning fox clans that there is another such creature, in badger form, in the Northwest."
There were quiet croaks of agreement from a group of younger rooks perched in a neighboring tree. One of them nodded his beak, confirming her story. "The earth-walker speaks the truth. Even we daren't feed off of the flesh killed by this demon; it reeks of death."
The ancient hawk fixed San in his clouded stare. "Earth-Mistress, we the Sky Tribe have long since recognized you as the Midwife of the Forest. You are the savior of these woods which are so dear to all life, and we know of your efforts to coax our lands back to life." Pausing, the hawk cocked his head and flapped his wings once. "We give you the task of killing this wolf-dog demon. We pledge our allegiance to you with the undertaking of this mirthless work."
One of the other hawks hopped forwards. "We shall lead you to this wolf-dog, Midwife."
San nodded, eyes going steely. "I must first alert my brothers, and then I'll kill this demon."
She descended quickly from the tree, her eagle guides circling after her. She paced forwards and threw back her head in a long howl. The mournful cry echoed alone among the trees until it was joined by two more voices, returning the haunting song.
The eagles landed heavily on a nearby long, their yellow eyes flashing. "Midwife, are you ready?"
San nodded. "Let's go."
Rapping his knuckles to the doorframe, Ashitaka waited to enter until the woman on the bed before him turned to look at him.
"Lord Ashitaka. Why am I not surprised to see you."
"My Lady Eboshi." Ashitaka knelt briefly in respect for the sickly woman before going to sit by her bed. "You were unwell again today?"
The stunning leader had not lost all of her fire, but her strength would never be the same. Her advancing age showed wisps of gray in her dark hair, and frown lines had been forever etched between her eyebrows. She lay on her bed in her private chambers, a large fire keeping the room warm in the fireplace. Eboshi's frame had been covered by a large, decorative mantle, artfully embroidered. In contrast with the color and warmth in the room, her face looked dreadfully pale.
"Unwell because I've been stuck in this room. Doing nothing for my foundlings and my town except rotting alive."
"My lady, your guidance has been a pillar on which this town has been rebuilt." Ashitaka said gently. He stood, and poured some of the rich spiced wine from a silver pitcher into a cup on her bedside table. "You deserve now to rest and to heal a little before you go out to deal with the cares of the city."
Eboshi took the cup without complaint, and downed the contents in one mouthful. "Ahh, that warms one from the inside." She set the cup down, keen eyes on Ashitaka's face. "Such a weary look on such a handsome man. Tell me, Ashitaka, why are you so tired?"
"My lady, you used to run this city single-handedly." Ashitaka made motions to refill her cup, which she waved away. "You know why I'm tired. Why anyone would be tired."
Eboshi raised her hand to cup Ashitaka's sun-browned cheek, her thumb tracing the scar that still lingered there. "Ah, Ashitaka, you know as well as I do that it is your guidance that has been the pillar upon Iron Town had been rebuilt. I still don't understand why you took such pains to help us all these years."
"I couldn't abandon these people." Ashitaka said simply.
Eboshi let her hand fall, as if too tired to hold it up. Her piercing eyes were still trained on his face. "But you could abandon others."
Ashitaka didn't respond for a long while, staring into the flames with over-bright eyes. Finally, he sighed.
"I… know that she will understand."
Eboshi snorted. "That wretch hardly understands herself. What makes you so sure that she hasn't decided to kill you the moment you go out and try find her again?"
Ashitaka didn't answer. "Lady Eboshi, do you believe that you will get well again?"
Eboshi propped herself up on her remaining elbow, causing her mantle to fall off of her shoulders. The thick kimono she wore was tied about mid-upper arm on her left side, protecting the short stump she had left. She stared at it for a few moments before answering.
"I have to believe that I will get well again. Otherwise, I have no reason to keep waking in the morning."
Ashitaka gave the broken woman a small, sad smile. He rose to his feet, set the pitcher of spiced wine close to where she could reach it, and helped her lower herself back down onto her pillows. Gently drawing the mantle up to her chin again, Ashitaka spoke in a low voice.
"That is also why I believe she understands."
Eboshi watched as Ashitaka bowed himself out of her chambers. With a sigh, she poured herself more spiced wine. "Ashitaka, you are too good for some craven wolf-child." Eboshi muttered to herself, before toasting her cup in the direction that he had left.
Ashitaka's feet seemed much heavier than normal as he trudged towards the stables. His eyelids couldn't seem to stay propped open for much longer, and every muscle in his body begged for sleep. He forced himself to keep walking, feeling guilty that he hadn't visited Yakul since the dispute at the fish market a few days ago. Hiasu had also been confined to his stall since then as well, and both of the loyal animals deserved his attention.
A thin, wailing howl echoed up past the gates of Iron Town, issuing thinly from the heart of the forest. Ashitaka stopped dead, straining to hear the sound again. Townsfolk around him started to mutter worriedly as was their wont when the forest found its voice; old prejudices had died hard among the humans. Ashitaka ignored them, his heart leaping as two more voices answered the first.
Please be waiting for me, my dearest heart.
End Chapter
Authoress Pen here.
Yerg, I shouldn't be writing this right now. I have SO MANY other things I should be doing right now… like learning, or homework. Oh well. Who needs an education these days? Ha. Ha.
ANYHOO, hoped you enjoyed the chapter (sorry about the wait, and again, can't really make many promises concerning the next update) and PLEASE let me know how I'm doing. These authors on this here site aren't lying when they say that reviews really do fuel the writing capabilities of an author(ress.)
Cheers,
Pen