Hey guys! Well, I had three hours to spare today so I cranked out this little chapter to throw you a bone. I'll try writing more, but I've been working on original stories soo... Well, anyway, he's the new chapter! Back to Amaterasu.


Amaterasu coughed and spluttered as she emerged from the pool, drenched to the bone. She gasped as the stinging air returned to her lungs, shivering slightly. She couldn't recall quite what happened–to her it felt like a dream, zooming in and out of focus. She remembered the shadow, how it seemed to reach up to her… she shook the thought from her brain, flicking water from her face and rippling the glass surface slightly. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness slowly, and she felt the eery brush of unfamiliarity on her back. This was not the Celestial Plain. This wasn't anywhere. It was barren, it was unwelcoming, and it was freezing. It was all grass and rocks, and there was a bridge up the massive hill that Amaterasu didn't have the energy to investigate. Amaterasu had trouble staying afloat. She crawled out of the murky water, and realized her movements were unnaturally clumsy. She collapsed onto the dried grass and glanced down at herself. She tried to scream, but only a yelp came out. She had... fur! She had paws! She leapt to her feet and yipped repeatedly in fear. Her... fur spiked on the back of her neck.

What happened to me! She thought frantically, twisting her head back and forth to get a good look at her transformation. She paused for a split second and raced back to the water, stopping abruptly and peering into it at her reflection. She stared into the eyes of a very white, very large dog.

Her jaw parted slightly, revealing pure, sharp, ice white teeth. She was scared for a moment, but regained herself when she realized they were hers. Her clipped ears flattened on the side of her head and a low growl escaped her throat.

She whimpered, backing away from the evidence of her mutation. The grass crunched as she sat on her haunches, looking to the sky for comfort. Where was she? Where was her family? Where was Waka?

This was the reason no one was allowed into the Reflecting Pool, she realized. She felt a twisting in her stomach, and knew she should have listened to her father. Her father... How could she have been so stupid! A direct disobeying cost her her humanity.

She was lonely. She was scared. A brisk, freezing gust of wind rippled her fur and shattered what little comfort her former warmth held. She looked across the fields. It was completely barren, the only source of life was the moon, grand and full, its rays glinted off of each blade of grass, lighting up her eyes. It was the only link to home, the only thing she knew. Something howled off in the distance. It sounded sad. Alone. Maybe it was just her own subconscious projecting, but she felt the sadness. The breeze carried in thin, wispy clouds and blocked out her only connection to the Celestial Plains, and she sat in utter darkness.

How had this happened? What witchcraft could alter a being's physical form? She rose from the grass and tested her body's reaction when she moved. It moved slowly, uncoordinated. She quivered and stepped forward again, trying to find some kind of balance. She stumbled again and lay flat in the grass, breathing in the dust. She realized that her sense of smell was greatly heightened and sighed deeply, intaking the sweet fumes of the flowers. It was slightly comforting and she closed her eyes, and she discovered how exhausted she was. Her limbs were splayed out and she whimpered, drifting off into a deep, stressful sleep.

You left them behind. A voice whined. She turned wildly, trying to detect who spoke. Everything was blurry and undistinguishable.

You abandoned them. Another raspy voice croaked. Amaterasu tried to speak but found she couldn't.

You betrayed them. Everything was gray. She stood in an empty, enclosed room with no way out. She looked up and found four vultures circling her endlessly, with massive wings fully expanded and casting horrible shadows onto the floor.

It's all your fault. The last crowed. Amaterasu curled up on the floor, afraid to look. A voice sobbed behind her.

"You've doomed them all." Amaterasu peeked out from her crouching position and gaped at the woman before her. She had short, glossy black hair and sheet-white skin. She removed her head from her hands and had tears streaking down her face. Amaterasu stood and gazed at this small women, in awe.

"Mother?"


Well, there it is. We'll be back to Waka in the next chapter, so look for my update :). I don't think I've mentioned this before, but you guys know this is a prequel to my other Okami story, right? You don't have to read it to get this storyline, but if you want to get a continuation of this storyline, just check my Profile Page. Review!