Clip. Clip. Clip. Clip.

Hoshi slowly ran the blade down the side of the white wood figurine with practiced movements. She'd been working on this project since dawn and was determined not to make a single flaw into her current crafting project. It wouldn't do if the work was damaged in any way. The figurine was being carefully crafted to ensure no flaw graced its wooden works and it would deeply satisfy the demoness if she succeeded in her goal.

Clip. Clip. Clip. Clip. Clip.

Nothing was going to disturb her. The soft rumble of the river nearby soothed her into a relaxed state and the soft wind in the trees filled her with an inner peace. During her time in solitude, one of the few places she'd been able to be free and in peace was when she was one with the Earth under her feet. Clearing her mind, she had let her mind drift away into the sweet soothing harmony of nature and felt the life about her in the trees, the flowers, and the animals. Her elements had drifted far and deep into the land about her letting her mind escape the pain and misery of her life and be free for a few stunning moments. But that had changed, but that didn't mean she still slipped away to be alone for a few fleeting moments and be one with the Earth once again, at peace.

Clip. Clip. Clip.

The time she had here gave her time to think and ponder over things. She could let her mind soar into the deepest thoughts of her own mind without a single disturbance until her pup or someone else came looking for her. The thought of her pup made her smile softly. Rin, her sweet little pup, had changed her life forever the moment she had found her but she wouldn't change it for the world. Hoshi loved that little girl with every piece of her heart. Rin had pulled Hoshi unknowingly out of the pit of despair Hoshi had considered her life into the one she lived now, the one she'd dreamed of. Because of that little girl, she had friends, a home, and she had a new little family. Herself, Rin, Hikaru, and even Sesshomaru.

Clip. Clip. Clip. Clip.

"Momma!"

Hoshi immediately looked in the direction of her pup, who was skipping to her side with a prancing Hikaru by her side. The demoness had to grin. Too adorable.

"Me and Shippo had so much fun," the little girl squealed. "Kagome took us to the river and we went swimming! Then we went back to her house and we played with Shippo's magic tricks before we went to go play tag and hide-n- seek!"

The demoness grinned before waving to the miko who was in the distance, who had obviously brought her pup to her. She was forever grateful to Kagome who always was willing to babysit Rin for her when necessary and watching her pup during the time she and Shippo played. Hoshi enjoyed the time she got alone, usually only an hour, but she still completely loved her pup and enjoyed the time she got with her. She would hate it when the time came when Rin grew up into a beautiful young lady. Hoshi felt a pang at that thought, but gave it no matter. Her pup was only 10. She still had many years to go before that time came, and Hoshi would treasure every moment of it.

"I'm glad you had fun, sweetheart. You ready for lunch?"

"Hai!"

The demoness scooped up the child into her arms and began to head home, sliding the dagger into its little sheath so it wouldn't accidently harm Rin. Her pup snuggled up against her and watched Hikaru chase a yellow butterfly ahead of them. Hoshi had done a job well done with healing the wounded wolf demon, and he was completely in good shape now under her care. Hikaru had come to completely adore his two owners he considered his family and loved the attention and love he got from them both. He would never leave them, the two girls sensed that in his behavior and how he never tried to ever leave, but they were glad. They loved that little wolf demon.

"Hikaru," Rin giggled. "Wait for me!"

The little wolf demon's reply was a happy bark before he bounded up to bat at the butterfly he continued to chase. Hoshi set down her pup and watched as the two chased the butterfly together into the woods. Hoshi sighed and was about to follow them when a voice called out to her. Oh great, this was just fantastic. But when she saw who it was that feeling quickly changed.

"Hoshi, wait," Sango called to her.

"Oh, hi Sango," Hoshi replied when the demon slayer caught up.

"Hello Hoshi. How goes things for you?"

"Things are great, actually. Yourself?"

"Honestly, I'm quite stressed out," the demon slayer admitted.

"Oh? Is there something I can do for you, Sango?"

"Actually, I came to ask a favor of you."

Hoshi just raised a eyebrow in response, obviously waiting.

"I hate to ask this of you, but would you consider watching my little ones for me tomorrow night?"

"Of course, Sango. I would love to."

"Oh, thank you."

Meanwhile, while the demoness and demon slayer had been talking, Rin and Hikaru had unknowingly run deeper into the woods than expected. The butterfly flew up into the trees before disappearing out of both their sights.

"Aww," Rin lightly complained. "It got away."

Bark.

Rin looked around her, but she knew where she was. She had explored the woods surrounding the village so often she swore she knew the woods by heart. She loved the beautiful nature around here and just enjoyed getting away sometimes to spend some time in these woods, but the best part was when either Hoshi or Sesshomaru accompanied her.

"We should probably get back to Momma she might get worried."

A bark of agreement was her answer. Rin reached down and picked up the little demon wolf, petting his fur softly as she turned to go in the direction they had come earlier.

"Going somewhere," a dark voice growled lightly.

The little girl whipped around to find someone not far away from her, staring her down almost hungrily. It was immediately obvious he was a demon. Orange hair draped down his shoulders, three black stripes on both his cheeks, and dark red eyes. A tiger demon. Rin lightly backed away when he slowly came closer, ignoring the outraged snarls of the little wolf.

"Who might you be?"

Rin couldn't answer. Her tongue seemed to be glued in the back of her throat. Never had she been afraid of demons, being as it was her parents were both demons and a hanyou uncle, but this demon frightened her. He stared at her if she was food and a dark aura seemed to coat him like a blanket. He was bad news.

"Skinny," he continued. "but still you have tender juicy human meat. Delicious."

Rin didn't know what to. She felt her fear begin to cloud her senses but the demon noticed at once, increasing her fear.

"Oh, don't worry, little one. I will make your death quick and painless."

Hikaru didn't like that comment. With a angry growl, he leaped out of his young human's masters arms and to Rin's shock, disappeared in a ball of blue ice cold wind. It disappeared as soon as it had appeared, and a huge wolf the size of small pony stood in front of her letting off a huge roar of anger before he pounced. Rin couldn't believe it. Was that Hikaru!

'He is just like Kilala!"

Rin knew it couldn't be anyone else but her beloved pet and friend. He looked just like he did when he was smaller, but he had two sabertooth fangs prodding from his upper lips but two smaller fangs prodded up from his lower unlike Kilala. He was a bit taller than the cat demon, but he had the same muscle and speed the cat demon did. Rin wasn't able to think farther than that as a horrible roar echoed from Hikaru as he sank his large teeth into the tiger demons arm. The offending demon yowled in pain before raising his other hand and slashing the wolf demon across his right eye. Hikaru let go with a yelp of pain, but he whirled around using his three tails and hip to smack the tiger demon into a nearby tree. Rin crouched as her wolf demon took a protective stance in front of her and snarled angrily in warning. The tiger demon stood up shaking angrily and Rin did the only thing she could think of.

"MOMMA!"

Hoshi's head snapped to the side as she heard her pup's cry and a angry roar from.. Hikaru? She didn't even give Sango a chance to ask what was the matter before she was gone. Her pup was in danger!

"NO HIKARU!"

Rin cringed away as the wolf demon was grabbed by the neck and thrown onto the ground harshly. The little girl heard something crack and a pained howl from her pet before he actually got back up and charged the tiger demon. He wouldn't ever touch his human girl! The tiger demon was caught off guard and the two went flying into a tree, bringing it to the ground with a loud crashing sound. Rin watched in horror as Hikaru was hit with a loud crack on the head before he went down, whining lightly with pain. The tiger demon immediately turned to her with a cruel smile on his face.

"Now since that is done with, let's get on with the plan shall we," he purred.

The tiger demon shot at her with inhuman speed with claws outstretched for the kill. Hikaru struggled to his feet and went to protect her, but it was too late. He couldn't get there fast enough!

"MOMMA," Rin screamed before raising her arms in her weak defense.

Suddenly there was a loud sound that sounded like someone crashing into another before angry hisses sounded from all around. Rin raised her head in amazement to see Hoshi in front of her in a protective stance her eyes completely red in anger. The tiger demon had been slammed away from her during midflight and had apparently crashed into another tree upon impact but he was still on his feet, growling.

"How dare you try to kill my pup," Hoshi hissed angrily.

"Your pup?"

Hoshi ignored his question but stared down her opponent with narrowed eyes keeping track of his every movement. He would die for trying to kill Rin!

"Hikaru," Hoshi commanded softly. "Get Rin out of here, now."

The wolf demon immediately trotted to the human girls side and nudged her lightly. Rin stared at her mother almost in horror and concern. She wanted her to leave her! No, she couldn't leave Hoshi with this monster! Hoshi smelt her pup's hesitation on her scent and quickly turned her head lightly to look at her pup, but keeping her enemy within eyesight.

"Go Rin. I will be fine. GO!"

Rin jumped onto the wolf demons back without question, she would never disobey Hoshi! Hikaru glanced at his mistress one last time before taking to the skies with the little girl holding on tightly to his fur. She'd be okay, he knew it. But Rin stared behind her at the smaller figures of Hoshi and the tiger demon until they vanished from her sight blocked by the trees.

'She's safe.'

Hoshi felt herself relax slightly when her pup was out of danger immediately feeling better once Rin was out of sight. She had about had a heart attack at the sight of a demon leaping at her little baby fully prepared to kill her and had never been so glad for her extreme speed. If Rin had gotten hurt, she would have never forgiven herself! The tiger demon began to slightly shift foot to foot, glaring at her.

"You took my dinner," he hissed darkly.

Hoshi didn't reply. She had been taught not to exchange harsh words during or before battle, so she wouldn't even waste a spare of energy or her breath on a worthless scum. The tiger demon charged her claws outstretched and Hoshi was ready, catching his hand with her own tightly snapping it to the side breaking his wrist. He howled in pain before his eyes glowed deeper red. Hoshi swallowed lightly before gritting her teeth. The battle had begun.

Rin began to tremble in fear as large clouds of dirt erupted from the ground like volcanoes and loud cracks of trees being torn down sounded in her ears. Over the sounds of battle, she heard angry roars and outraged hisses but every once in awhile a howl of pain would sound out. Rin tightened her grip on Hikaru's fur. Hoshi would be okay, she would win! She wouldn't die and leave her! But as the sounds grew more violent, Rin didn't even know what to think.

'Bloody curses,' Hoshi thought angrily.

The demoness wiped a trail of blood from the side of her mouth before spitting out a glob of blood from her mouth. The tiger demon was definitely more powerful than he had first appeared to be, even she had to admit that. Hoshi was covered in bloody gashes and cuts, sweat, and grain stains but at least she wasn't as bad as the tiger demon was.

"DIE!"

She whirled around to see the tiger demon leaping for her with all his possible speed but she snatched him around the neck easily before throwing him into a nearby tree. He yowled with pain before glaring at her, his eyes darkening.

'Uh oh.'

He exploded in a ball of orange fur appearing in his true form before her. He was huge, but not as tall as some demons she had seen in her past but still impressive. He leaped at her with another roar but she dodged him before running for her life. She didn't want to expose her true self! Rin was around still and probably watching, but how would she react to her true form? The tiger demon was right behind her, tearing up trees as he went.

"Where's Momma?"

Rin looked below her at the trees but she could see no sight of the demoness. Hikaru let off a small whine, sharing the same thoughts as the human girl on his back. Where was the demoness? Suddenly both of them heard a yelp of pain that sounded eerily familiar before a limp body was thrown into the air with a huge tiger after it. Rin recognized the body and screamed in horror. It was Momma!

Hoshi was reciting every swear word she knew as she was thrown into the air. Her side screamed with pain from the impact. The tiger demon was right below her with a almost amused but victorious expression on his smug face. Suddenly, Hoshi heard her pup's scream and glanced in the direction it came from righting herself using her wind powers. She could smell Rin's tears and fear!

"MOMMA!"

Hoshi swore time froze as she stared at her pup's panicked expression she could see from the distance that separated them. What could she do? Rin saw the tiger demon coming after her mother with speed he hadn't had before but why wasn't Hoshi transforming to fight back? Suddenly, she understood. Was Hoshi afraid Rin would be afraid of her true form? Well, that wasn't going to happen. She had seen Sesshomaru's true form and he didn't frighten her!

"MOMMA, TRANSFORM!"

The demoness froze in surprise as she flew with her wind powers away from the tiger demon. Transform? Did her pup just tell her to..? The tiger demon seemed to get annoyed with the human child and to Hoshi's horror, switched from her to Rin! Hoshi snarled and leaped forward, finally shifting to her true form.

'He will die,' was her only thought.

Rin watched in amazement as Hoshi disappeared in a ball of green and blue swirling colors as she moved forward before the most beautiful creature leaped from the ball. Only Sesshomaru could ever compete with Hoshi's true form's beauty. With a roar, Hoshi sank her talons into the smaller tiger demon. The tiger demon began to panic and tried to get away, but her grasp was too strong for him! Rin turned away as Hoshi's head shot forward and sank into her enemies neck before jerking her head sharply, snapping his spine. The tiger demon yowled, but it was cut short as Hoshi's paw disappeared within his chest tearing out his heart with a quick moment. The body jerked violently before it fell into the trees below them with a crash. Rin was completely amazed. That was fast.

"Wow," she whispered.

The beautiful head turned to look at her almost with a shocked expression. Rin gazed at Hoshi with wonder. The silver scales coating her long snake like body shined like diamonds in the sun. Long light green fur ran down her back starting from the front of Hoshi's black horns to the tip of her tail. Fins prodded from the back of Hoshi's cheeks and the tip of her tail was quite like a fish, waving back in forth in the light breeze. Her eyes were bright red, but a slit of sky blue was all that remained from her human eyes. Rin began to giggle when she noticed Hoshi looked like she had a mustache with light green fur at the ends.

"Your beautiful, Momma!"

Hoshi stared in disbelief. Rin thought she was pretty? Why wasn't she afraid of her? She looked extremely fierce and powerful in her true form then why..? Hoshi suddenly understood. Sesshomaru. He must have revealed his true form to Rin too, so she wasn't afraid. Her adoptive parents would never harm her. Hoshi let off a affectionate growl before slowly lowering her head to her pup, who hugged her muzzle. Hoshi blinked in surprise. Hikaru even didn't appear fazed by her appearance but licked her nose lightly. He knew who she was, though she looked completely different. Rin smiled at her.

"Thanks for saving me, Momma."

Hoshi gave her pup a small toothy grin, making Rin laugh before she patted her mother's nose. The demoness drifted away from them and shifted back to her human form, being caught as Hikaru dove underneath her before she could call on her wind. Rin immediately hugged her and Hoshi smiled, laying a cheek on Rin's soft hair as Hikaru took them home.

'Thank you, Pup.'

Woah, Hoshi's true form revealed! :D Hope you enjoyed this chapter my readers! I sure did ;) Please review, I love to hear feedback