The Bow that Breaks

Chapter 5

I do not own Inuyasha

Satomi pulled the ribbons from her hair running her fingers through it relieved that she'd made it through the annual dinner. Hearing a thump, she watched, somewhat amused as Sesshoumaru rolled onto his stomach and poised himself to attack the ball again. He jumped and landed forcefully just at the edge of it sending it rolling to the other side. Sprinting after it he stopped in his tracks as a loud crash and the faint sound of screams erupted. Satomi stood up, surprised by the noise. She could feel her heartbeat racing as she began to pick up foreign scents. Approaching the doorway she was met by one of her soldiers out of breath and frantic.

"My lady, the castle is under attack! Take your son and retreat to the cellars. Wait for our word. You'll be safe there!"

Satomi nodded nervously as she turned to find Sesshoumaru. Her heart threatened to beat out of her chest as she spotted him looking out the window at the chaos.

"…?"

"Sesshoumaru, we must go!"

She could hear the voices of her soldiers, fighting, and screams of their servants. She immediately thought of Kaori. What would become of her in this chaos? Satomi shook her head to keep the tears from coming. There was a small hand clutched within hers and her concern should lie with no one else but him. The moment she came to the door of the cellar and opened it Sesshoumaru pulled away from her.

"Sesshoumaru what are you doing?! We'll be safe down here."

The child frowned and shook his head.

"This is not the time to argue with me. Come on!"

"No!"

"Sesshoumaru?!"

She could hear the footsteps of the men coming toward them. There was no time to waste as she grabbed Sesshoumaru covering his mouth as they backed into a far corner of the room. The dust ridden crevice was just large enough for the two of them as she crouched among the spiders and cobwebs and covered them with a weather worn sheet. Satomi could hear the men enter the room talking amongst one another and searching for any unsuspecting victim. She kept her calm as she heard them stomp purposefully across the floor. For a moment she was confused by what they were doing until one of the men yelled that the floor was hollow. They'd found the beginning of the cellar door. To anyone not looking for it, it would not have been noticeable which led her to believe the men must have overheard her soldiers. She hugged Sesshoumaru closer to her wondering if he had sensed the danger of being trapped with no means of escape.

The men broke into the cellar only to be disappointed by an empty room. Once they were satisfied there was no target they were gone. Satomi finally allowed herself to breathe and her focus returned to Sesshoumaru. Her hand was still clasped over his mouth and she realized her grip had been nearly deadly in an effort to keep him still and it must have been hurting him yet he had not struggled at all to gain relief. As she uncovered them, she loosened her grip. Sesshoumaru looked in the direction of where the men had gone before locking eyes with his mother in expectation of her next move. She quickly found the window, pulling the screen back she was greeted by a freezing gust of air. She peaked out cautiously expecting to see enemy soldiers waiting for her to show herself. All was clear but there was a long and wide stretch of snow covered lawn with no means of cover. What immediately followed that was the wall surrounding the castle that was meant to keep any threat out which now felt like the barrier to a cage trapping them inside. She and Sesshoumaru would have to make a run for it but they were yet at another disadvantage. Satomi was positive she could make the jump over the high wall without shifting to keep from bringing attention to herself but she wasn't sure that Sesshoumaru could. He didn't have the ability of flight yet outside of his true form.

"Sesshoumaru we're going to leave the castle. I need you to do exactly as I say this time."

Sesshoumaru placed his arms around her neck as she supported him against her back.

"Hold on tight and don't let go."

She felt Sesshoumaru's nod as he clasped his hands together and his body tensed in a vise. Satomi cautioned herself as she again looked out of the window. The chaos within the castle still ever so present as she continued to hear the clatter of weapons, voices in panic and dismay, more of their servants caught in the battle. Like a signal, smoke rose from the side of the castle and she knew they had to go now. She gathered her dress only to growl deeply and curse the annoyance of it under her breath. Satomi found a quick moment of satisfaction as Sesshoumaru growled back. It wasn't a threat, he was simply mimicking her. It was a gesture he and his father shared. Throwing the screen to the window fully open, she pushed all her strength through her body, moving as quickly as she could. The wind felt like sheets of ice cutting at her eyes, nose, and cheeks, the ground unforgiving and slick with the coat of snow. She'd all but halved the distance to the wall as a spear came within inches flying to her right, immediately followed by another directly overhead. She dodged in a panic as spears and arrows continued to rain around them. Satomi forced her body forward, shifting her run into unpredictability to keep from being an easy target. Her lungs burned, her chest pained as she demanded too much speed from her body without shifting. Satomi launched herself from the base of the wall as Sesshoumaru watched the ground leave them, weapons trailing or just missing them in their ascent. As quickly as she found the top she was descending the other side, more controlled as she used her energy to lower them to the ground safely. The threat was now behind them as they entered the cover of the woods but she was not so trusting that they would not be followed. Satomi continued with Sesshoumaru clinging to her. His quiet made her anxious for a moment but she smelled no blood and she could feel his small heartbeat steadying the further away they got from their attackers. She slowed and relaxed, walking as the flakes of snow thickened and fell at a steady pace.

Sesshoumaru found his feet as his mother stopped to rest. He watched her, sure that he'd never seen her move so quickly. The surrounding area was not familiar to him. He listened for any sounds. The silence of the dark falling upon them was deafening and the silhouette of the trees reached out with crooked tendrils.

Satomi looked down as she felt the prick of Sesshoumaru's claws against her skin as he grabbed onto her dress.

"Lost?"

Satomi shook her head looking up through the trees to find a sliver of moonlight as she made her decision.

"We have to go north but it's too far to walk in this form."

"Why?"

"There are allies there."

"A...?"

"Allies, others who will help us, keep us safe until your father returns. Come on."

She watched her breath float out into the winter air with each pant. The crunch of the snow underneath her paws reminded her that this trip would not be an easy one since they would not be able to fly any of the way without risking being seen. Traveling north would lend she and Sesshoumaru a safe haven. These were not just any allies, they were her family. A soft whine caught her ear. She stopped her trek momentarily to look back for Sesshoumaru. In her true form her eyesight was perfect against the dark but the blue crescent adorning Sesshoumaru's forehead was one of the only distinguishing marks to the pup among the falling snow. Her height allowed her to navigate more easily and she'd left no discernible trail for the pup leaving him to paw his way through the snow that threatened to swallow him. Sesshoumaru was slowing from fatigue and the undignified whining was her alert to slow the pace. Satomi stopped momentarily until Sesshoumaru managed to close the distance. Time was of the essence and she had no idea how close their enemies were if they were following. With the pup moving quickly again she continued only to hear distraught noises to reoccur with the next few steps. She huffed and continued forward hoping Sesshoumaru would push through it. She barked for him to keep moving but the response was yet again another whine more desperate. Satomi continued though slowing her steps to her conscience. She had hoped not to have to carry him the majority of the trip. She'd let him walk for the last ten miles but she'd known all along that despite Sesshoumaru's strength and stubborn nature he was still a puppy and he would never make the trip on foot. It was too long and too hard on his legs. Satomi was only a few feet away but Sesshoumaru had quit moving altogether. She sat watching and listening to his whines and cries turn into a desperate fit. Satomi shook her head at the dramatic display before she got to her feet and returned to the child. Sesshoumaru immediately got up and buried himself under her chest. Satomi could feel his body tensed and shivering. He nudged her with his nose before she gave in. Satomi half expected him to be angry with her, readying herself for swinging claws instead she was met with a relieved pup.

A/N: Continued appreciation for reading and reviewing :)