I was nearly asleep when I felt him stop moving, and sit down. I opened my eyes and looked around dazidly. We were on the edge of a clearing, the sun wasn't straight up so it was probably close to 4, we were under a huge tree that spread out above us. Kouga adjusted me on his lap so that his legs were stretched out on either side of me and I am leaned against his chest. I sat there looking into the clearing where I noticed a squirrel and chipmunk arguing over a nut of some kind. I lightly giggled as I lay back against him. I sighed and closed my eyes, that nap sounded really good now.
"Why is it you always fall asleep when I carry you?" His voice soft but compared to his normal tone he wasn't as playful.
"Is it a bad thing that I do?" I need to find out what is bugging him.
"I guess not." I felt him turn away and look off into the distance. I turned myself around and looked at him. He didn't return my gaze. I raised my arms and put them around his neck, I ran my hand along his jaw line as he turned his head slowly toward me. He nuzzled into my hand, and growled quietly. Once he was facing me I pulled myself forward and placed a kiss on his lips. His arms wrapped around me and pulled me tight, pressed tightly together I pulled him down hungrily. He groaned before he broke the kiss and kissed my jaw as he kissed his way back and up to my ear, nibbling as I gasped loudly.
"oh Kagome-" He moved down my neck, nibbling and kissing lightly. Once he was down to where my neck and shoulder met he latched onto my neck and sucked hard. I moaned loudly, I moved my legs over his to where I am now straddling him. His hands lowering down my back to my hips where he grasps them and grinds himself up toward me. He released my neck and backed up to look at me. His eyes hazed over with that look I have only seen a few times, not really knowing what to call it, want? Desire? Lust? Oh my gosh his eyes glazed over with lust.
"What's the matter Kouga?" His eyes cleared and he looked upset.
"Nothing-"
"You think I can't tell when something is bothering you?" I was trying to be firm but I could tell I was failing.
He sighed.
"The Lynx tribe are venturing closer and closer to the den. We will have to do something about it soon."
"Gather the men and go then." He looked at me with an inspired look, hopeful but it washed away quickly.
"I can't." He looked down to his lap which was incidentally my lap. "I can't leave when you are-" He stopped, not looking up at me but not speaking.
"While I am helpless. That's what you were going to say isn't it?" I felt quite disappointed in myself, and in Kouga. How dare he think that I can't defend myself. I tried to quash it before Kouga spotted it but it was too late. His expression changed to one of shame.
"I didn't mean it like that."
"Then how did you mean it?" My tone was much more hateful than I liked, I flinched. I don't want to be mad at him or let him see that I might be because then he will try and change the topic.
"I meant that it isn't right for us to leave the women here unprotected."
"Most of the women here can defend themselves, they are wolf demons the same as the men. Tell them you need them to step up and I know they will. Give them a chance." He thought about it for a moment before responding.
"So, I heard you will be wearing Jiki's ritual gown?" He sounded honestly interested and I couldn't help myself from being a girl. I started gushing about all the things she and I talked about, with her not having a daughter so she gave it to me. I told him all about my mother's gown and what I knew about her ceremony. Kouga smiled and listened intently.
"So what are the human customs for a wedding?"
I turned around in his lap, with his help, leaning against his chest again I began from the beginning. Started with the proposal, to the shower, which totally perplexed him, then the bachelor and bachelorette parties, then finally the ceremony and reception. He listened and questioned from time to time and commented when things were similar to their customs. We sat there talking and laughing, I was clearly excited and letting it get the better of me.
I hadn't even noticed that the sun was starting to set until Kouga leaned down mid sentence and kissed on my shoulder. His actions elicited a moan from me, and I heard him growl in approval.
"Kouga- you are distracting me." He chuckled.
"I thought you might be getting hungry?" My stomach rumbled at the mention of food and I blushed brightly. "Thought so!" He picked me up and I once again curled into his chest.
"So a ring is traditional in your time?"
"uh-huh. Some women like big flashy ones with large gems but I have always loved my mother's." I suppressed a yawn. "It is a simple silver band with an opal set in it. It looked a bit like the full moon, I have always thought it was beautiful." This time I couldn't hide the yawn.
"You never thought that a bit suspicious? You felt drawn to a ring that reminded you of a full moon and you never saw the connection to me?" He chuckled, as I pondered, he had a point. I always loved the full moon and my mother's ring looked like the moon, and of course my father's favorite animal the wolf. My mother's room was full of wolf statuettes, I remember seeing them as a girl but I hadn't been in there in a long time. It seemed everything about my life, both past and future, was pulling me to Kouga. I have to admit I liked it.
We made it to the cave and we entered. The wolves were all strung out eating, laughing and talking enjoying the evening meal. He took me over to a log and sat me down.
"I'll get you some food." He walked off, every once in a while stopping to talk to someone who called for him. I watched him disappear into the crowd, his tail swaying as he walked. I felt a warm feeling swell through me, love, love spread through me. I love that crazy wolf. The children from my herb classes ran up to me all shouting my name.
"Kagome!" I had arms around me from every side and I couldn't help but giggle.
"Hi guys! How are you all?" I tried my best to hug them all back but there were simply too many of them. There was a rush of "great!", "better now that you are here!", and "awesome!". Rena walked around to the front of me, there was a light pink line where the gash had been, but otherwise no trace of the injury and the splint was off of her arm and she seemed to be using it fine.
"I am so glad you are all ok! I have missed you all so much!" They all started gushing all at once about what they have been doing for the past few weeks. Trying to follow each of the stories I got lost fast. My head started swimming trying to focus on something when all the children stopped and backed away. I felt someone beside me and turned to face Kouga, he was looking at the children.
"Kagome is very happy to see you all but give her a break, let her get used to it all again." They all nodded, as they took a bow and turned to run off. Rena stopped and turned back to me.
"Miss Kagome would you possibly help me tomorrow?"
"Sure Rena, What with?" She blushed slightly.
"I have been trying to get better with my bow, I could use some pointers." My heart swelled with pride, she was trying to use a bow, like me!
"Sure, how about around lunch time?" She grinned, nodded and she turned to run off.
Kouga handed me my plate and I ate hungrily, every once in a while someone would come up and talk to Kouga about different things. Some of the elders tried talking to him and it made him upset, he would stiffen and I couldn't hear it but I could feel his growl. Something was happening and the elders are worried about it, that much was evident. I finished eating and noticed Kouga was barely half way through his meal. I took a chance and decided to ask him what was going on. I leaned into him and whispered where I knew he could hear me.
"What's going on? What are they on edge about?" He shook his head, he didn't want to tell me. "Kouga-" I used the best scolding tone I could.
"Lynx tribe less than a mile away." I gasped. When I looked about I saw the women herding children deeper into the caves, and the men kissing mates and gathering by the waterfall. "I have to go." He leaned over and kissed me squarely on the mouth, I felt his fear in his kiss. Oh Kouga how I wish I could help you. "Please stay inside." He kissed me lightly on the cheek. "Stay safe for me." I nodded yes, anything for you. "I love you." He stood smiled to me and walked to the waterfall with a few words to them that I couldn't make out they all ran out of the cave.
"Ari!" I heard footsteps and Ari came running into view from between the other ladies. "Go get my bow and quiver."
"But-"
"No, I won't hear it. They are less than a mile away who is to say that they aren't already close enough to find us. I will be ready." I saw a few of the other ladies looking at me curiously. "So what do you say ladies? Will we let our men charge out there and risk their lives and while we do nothing to protect our home?" Ari stood and ran off toward my den. "The men are gone, who is to say the lynx won't find us? Our men are great, we have a truly formidable force headed out but they can't be everywhere. It is time ladies to step up and show anyone who would harm our home, our family, our men, that we will not allow it! We will fight for them as they do for us. What do you say?"
"Kagome is right." It was Trea, she stepped forward and smiled to me. She pointed out 3 of the younger women. "Go keep the children quiet and calm. Any of you that are pregnant will be back with the children as well. Everyone else grab a weapon, tonight we defend our home." The women sent up a small, and unsure cheer before running off to the armory. Ari came back carrying my bow and a quiver full of arrows, she handed them to me before heading off to the back of the den.
I rolled up the sleeves of my kimono and turned around on the log so that I am facing the waterfall. I don't trust myself to stand for long, so my fighting will be ranged only. I slid the quiver onto my back, before I tested my bow string. Still nice and tight I had no doubt that it would hold up to whatever I needed to face, the only question is me. Am I going to be up to a fight?
The ladies returned most carrying spears or swords as they filled in beside me. The older ones sat on the log beside me the more able ones on the floor in front of me. We sat there, no one really speaking for a long time. No matter how long we sat there though no one moved. Everyone was just as determined as I was and we knew what we had to do. Time seemed to drag on, eventually I leaned forward to two of the ladies in front of me.
"Would you be willing to look outside? Take a sniff and a listen see what you find out?" She nodded and started walking out. Once she got near the waterfall she latched onto the wall and inched out. She wasn't gone more than a minute before she came back the same way.
"They are near, I can smell them. The waterfall covers the sound but the scent is strong, they are very close." Gulp. Oh no, that is what I was hoping she wouldn't say!
"Prepare yourselves ladies." My voice barely above a whisper but all nodded in understanding. With the nearly full moon outside there were some shadows on the water.
We spotted movement, there were at least 4 shaped passed near enough we could see them. But was it the men or the lynx tribe? Better to be prepared. I bent back down to the girl in front of me.
"Tell the front line to move up, stay close to the ground. Be ready." She moved up and passed out the instructions and they followed them quickly. The shadows started closing in. I pulled out an arrow and notched it onto the bow string. I pulled it up to my cheek, waited for whoever it was to come around the corner. If that thing isn't a wolf it is as good as dead.
I felt my spiritual energy spike as a figure came around the corner, but the only light was behind them since the bonfire went out. I could see a shape but I couldn't make it out. I heard growls among the wolves. That is good enough for me, I aimed for center mass and loosed my arrow. The pink arrow left a streak across the dark cave, when it got near the figures I saw the cat ears and whiskers. Their furry faces seemingly confused by the large cave full of wolf scent and the bright light. My arrow hit it's mark and the hole where it hit grew and grew, glowing pink until it swallowed his body whole. The dying screams of the cat were all the ladies needed, they jumped up and charged for the figures rounding the corner. I saw flashes of metal and claws, hissing and growls filling the air. I notched another arrow as a figure rounded the corner, this one not yet attacked by a wolf. I fired my arrow, this one only grazed his shoulder, he turned and looked right at me. He charged straight through the crowd, I fired another arrow he dodged deftly.
"Damn cats." I tried to notch another arrow but he was gaining too quickly, bounding over my wolves in a mad dash for me.
My heart is pounding, adrenaline pumping steady in my veins. I put my hands down on the log and push myself up to standing. I look up at him as he keeps running, several of the ladies diving at him to keep him back from me. He was no more than 10 feet away now, far too close for an arrow so I did the only thing I felt I could. I gripped one end of my bow and swung it like a baseball bat, knocking him straight upside the head. He fell over sideways as I tried to keep my balance with my bow vibrating violently. I released my bow and reached for an arrow, he was recovering too quickly! I took the tip of the arrow and brought it down as hard as I could to the top of his head, a faint pink glow tinging his eyes as he fell over and ceased to move. I bent to pick up my bow as another came around the corner, I notched my arrow, praying for it to hit and loosed it. He tried to dodge but it nailed his shoulder, the pink glow consumed him as he yowled out in pain.
The female wolves fighting valiantly had brought down far more than I had kept track of and they were finishing off the two left standing. I heard them yowl in pain and fall over. The women all sat there hunkered over glaring at the waterfall, daring someone else to pass through. A dark shape darted around the corner, I took an arrow as the women all jumped on it.
I heard a very deep growl and a "HEY!" before the women all backed off quickly. A few more shapes rounded the corner quickly, upon hearing their comrade get jumped. There were a few growls before I saw one of the women run to a shape and jump into his arms. The men. The mated women found their mates and wrapped them in a hug, I kept scanning the dark looking for one coming my way, but I wasn't seeing one. There I stood in the middle of a crowd of men and women that I called family waiting for him, and there I stood. The crowd around me cheered and told stories of what happened both inside and outside of the cave. The men fired up the bonfire and it was greatly appreciated, I scanned the crowd and was quite disappointed but not only disappointed I felt a consuming fear grip me as I shook slightly.
Kouga where are you?
A/N: So sorry this took so long I have actually had it ready to go since Monday but I got shafted by work so bleh adult stuff. Ok, so I hope you love, thank you sooo much for all the reviews, follows, and favorites! I appreciate so much hearing from you all! Ok so a few quick answers for the questions you asked: Yes, I they will get to the mating ritual and yes they will mate (I have just a couple more things to accomplish before that but next two chapters will be either it or lead into it directly.) Ari will have her baby, I am going with a wolf pregnancy since they are wolf demons and that is roughly 63-75 days (from what I looked up) so they baby being born isn't an instant thing but I also have a lot more planned for this so it will happen! I hope you stay tuned! :)