A/N: Next chapter. Thought I was going to do it all in First person did you? Wrong. I'm trying something different.

I do not own any of the InuYasha characters.

The characters Yumiko, Kotsuroki, Yoru, and Taiyou are mine.

~~~Spoiler Alert~~~

This takes place after the events of the Manga. There is absolutely no anime content appearing in this FanFic.

It is quiet as night takes over the world, the songs of wolves cascading in the Northern Lands. The Ookami are a breed who sing dutifully with each breath. Sharing the news of those fallen, mourning those who were slain by Naraku. It is during this time on the night of the full moon that the wolves tell of the days tale and pay respects to the ancestors. To the untrained ear it could simply be a call between the wolves in a howl that they don't understand. But to the wolves this is a song depicting the life and love around them. Each wolf adding their own story to the song that fills the air, each voice speaking something new to all of the Ookami. One voice stands out to a particular woman as she stands on the ledge outside of her home. She was a Daiyoukai, the daughter of the leader of the entire Northern Lands. The song had ended but she still stood on the ledge outside of her personal cave within the large, winding cavern that was the den of the Daiyoukai and those who were in their pack. Dark, crimson eyes gaze over the moon lighted horizon to see the plains that were between the mountains and a few human villages that were in the territory. Her expression shows that of curiosity as she brings herself to sit down, her gown of light blue and see through material pooling around her. The touch of the cold stone against her bare legs is almost a comfort to her as she just watches this steady horizon. She reaches a delicate looking hand up and pushes a few strands of her long ebony hair from her face. This wasn't usual for the girl but she was in a relaxed setting with no one to impress. It was just herself. No suitors wanting her to be at their beck and call, no father telling her to go here and there, no mother to tell you that you aren't being lady like, no little brother at her heels begging for attention, and no hand maidens trying to get her from here to there. Yes, she could be the equivalent of a Princess but she didn't want to be treated as so. She was the Alpha's daughter, the next in line if she were to prove her strength for it but not that it mattered. The girl that you see sitting here almost without a care of her modesty doesn't want anything like that for herself. She would willingly give it to her brother once he is of age. A smile comes across her features, causing the red markings around her eyes to crinkle slightly. (Much like the markings around Amaterasu's eyes from the video game Okami) The tail that peaks out from underneath her garments curls up around her and into her lap, the black fluffiness of it all being stroked by those long fingers. Her eyes are watching the horizon curiously as she ponders that one voice that sticks out in the song of wolves.

"Tell me, what ails you so? Your voice is laced with guilt and regret when you sing to the stars. But what is it that you have done? What is it that you feel guilty about and what is it that you regret," she asks softly, as if her voice will be carried onto the winds for the other to hear.

At the sound of her voice a wolf bathed in white steps out onto the ledge, ears perked forward and blue eyes intent on watching her. This was one of her two guardians, as is customary for a Princess no? They were not wolf demons like that of herself but instead, they were demons with a single animalistic form. Those crimson eyes look up to the female wolf, the wolf with kind eyes and she smiles.

"Did you hear it too, Taiyou? His voice is so sad," the young woman says to the white wolf.

The white wolf simply sits next to her with a silent nod. The girl then leans against the other female and laces her fingers into her fur. Behind her, a wolf bathed in all black enters the scene, eyes of green watching the pair. He was the mate of the white wolf and the second protector to this daughter. They were her companions and she was their's. He reaches over to the female and nuzzles her with his nose in which she sits up a little and looks towards him. He was telling her to go to bed and a soft laugh escapes those lips of hers.

"Fine Yoru, I will go to bed," she replies.

She pushes herself to her feet, careful of the ledge. A smile across her features like usual. She then stops halfway through her walk into her cavern and looks down, a finger coming to her lips.

"I'll find out who you are one day," she whispers to herself.

However, as she pushes back the fabric that separates the ledge from the outside world she hears something unusual. It was a yelp followed by a gurgle. A curved brow arches at this as she makes her way to the ledge and crouches down. Taiyou and Yoru are close to follow but they sense something is wrong. It is evident by the prickling fur along their back. Taiyou goes to pull at the young woman's nightgown but she is curious and she wants to see what it is. Those crimson eyes widen as she notices figures inching along the stone flat that was outside of the main entrance of the den. They go to a wolf guard and it is dropped in seconds. She pushes herself back and she quickly runs inside, much to the relief of her guardians. There is a commotion as it is noticed that they are under attack and the young woman begins to change into the black furs of her tribe. She pulls on a top that is cut just above her belly button and carries only straps for sleeves. She slips a skirt around her waist, her tail peeking from underneath and batting at her ankles. She then pulls on the arm warmers and leg warmers and she was dressed. She quickly pulls back her ebony hair into a ponytail and she bites her lip as she takes a deep breath. Her eyes slowly close as she takes in the new scent in her home. It was then that her eyes snap open, a growl easily rumbling in her throat.

"Serpents and..." she trails off and quickly turns to look through the fabric as forms appear in the sky, "Dragons?"

Her mind was reeling at this. Dragons? Daichi would never order such an attack like this but his son maybe, Surochi. It caused her to wonder what had happened to Daichi but that only meant the worse for the Ookami clan. That meant that Tatsuya had done something to him. Quickly she starts running into the maze like caverns of the of her guardians dutifully at her side. She would go to find her father, he would know what to do. He could tell her where to go and where she would be safe. She knew that he would send her and her brother Kotsuroki somewhere to wait out this battle. Feet pounded on the ground as she kept running, her breathing heavy but still she was determined to get there. She opens into the den where her mother and father is, her little brother clinging to her mother's leg. Her father stands tall and proud, his age and experience showing well in him. Her mother is obvious in her warrior breed as she readies her own blade for battle. Her mother's eyes meet with her's and a frown is etched along both of their features.

"Yumiko, get Kotsuroki and take the lower caverns to the bottom of the mountain. I want you to run and take refuge into one of the packs in the mountains. The further you get from here the better. We will come for you once this is all over," her mother says, stern and aged.

It is obvious that she is warrior bred by even her harsh tones but she has the look of motherly worry across her features. Yumiko nods and picks up the toddler in her arms, he was crying but he didn't make a sound. His own hair was short and a tousled mess. He was wearing his own black furs but it was obvious that he just got out of bed. Her father looks over to the two of them and gives them each a kiss on the forehead and Yoru tugs a little on Yumiko's tail to get her moving. She bites her lower lip and knows it is always possible this is the last time she will see her mother and father but she carries faith that they will send for her. But her heart aches, fearing the worst for her clan if both the Orochi and Ryu clans have attacked without warning.

"Sissy? Where are we going?" the little boy asks as she quickly walks to the lower parts of the caverns, taking the winding caves in the dark.

Yet her eyes could see as if it was still early evening. It is the advantage of being a wolf. She gives a weak smile and cuddles the boy closer to her. This was her little brother, the one who could have it all if she would let it, which she probably will.

"We are going to go visit some of the other wolves in the land. A good leader must know the other leaders of the wolf clans, especially since we are growing again," she explains softly, her voice low so not to be heard.

"But why now? I wanna go back to bed," he whines and she quickly hushes him.

"Because, Mommy and Daddy said we have to. Think of this... as an adventure, just like the games we play in the den okay? We are going on an adventure and we have to be quiet or the bad guys will find us," she explains softly, trying to get him to calm down.

That was when he took it seriously. He quiets down and he looks as if he is alert, his own little black tail giving a swish every so often. The young wolf demon is relieved to see him quiet and she quietly stalks after Taiyou in the dark with the little boy in her arms. Yoru takes up the rear and is careful to make sure that no one is following.

Hours past and the little boy in her arms is fast asleep and she is on the verge of curling up herself but she keeps moving for the sake of her brother. Finally, there is light ahead. Have they been walking all night? She steadies herself and watches as Taiyou steps out first and takes a look around to see if anyone is out there. She lifts her nose to the air and takes a deep breath but catches the scent of no one. Feeling that it is safe she turns her head to look back to her guarded and her sibling. The girl steps out into the light of morning and frowns a bit. They would have to continue south. The safest clan she can think of is the Southern Tribe. After all, it is furthest from the Daiyouki mountain. Yoru steps out behind her and he takes a look around.

"We'll go to the Southern Tribe. It should be safe there," Yumiko whispers.

Yoru looks up to her and gives a nod before getting ready to pick the best path. Taiyou is on alert, knowing they shouldn't stay here long. If things didn't go well above then the Orochi and Ryu would be quick to descend on them. Finally, Yoru finds a path and motions for them to move on. Yumiko follows without question after adjusting the little boy in her arms. They continue on the entire morning and into the late afternoon, not use to this type of exertion Yumiko begins to grow tired. Seeing this the two guardians allow her to stop and scout out a radius to make sure that no one is there. The two treat the two Daiyoukai demons like they would their own children. The young woman settles against one of the trees and allows the toddler to get comfortable in her lap. She rests her head back, taking a deep breath and relaxing her body. She knew she was safe as long as Taiyou and Yoru were there. They were always there.