Anika

Chapter 10

"Lord Inutaisho please put the pup in the center and have a seat." One of the council members stood up as Touga walked into the room. Anika thankfully stayed quiet when Touga put her on the ground. Anika tilted her head to one side as she looked over all four council members that sat in a circle around the pup. Anika soon lost interest in the unfamiliar demons and began to make her way to her father. Touga gave a warning snarl at Anika telling her to stay put. Anika swiftly sat down but kept her gaze on her father.

"So this is the pup you have adopted?" Rizo of the East spoke first.

"Yes her name is Anika and as far as I know she is an orphan." Touga replied.

"What makes you say such bold assertions?" Rizo countered Touga.

"Because her mother died right in front of my eyes and I have not caught whiff of any male close to being her father." Touga narrowed his eyes in annoyance at Rizo.

"You told us in your letter that your father came across one of these creatures in the past. Is this true?" Akito of the North asked Touga as he watched the pup stretch her golden dragon wings.

"Yes, it is true. Toga wrote a book about them called Dragolf. I have the book if you want to read it over." Touga was hoping that the council was warming up to the pup.

"In this book did it mention anything about these creatures declaring war on us or attacking us in any way?" Tora of the South spoke next as she observed the pup's curious eyes.

"No it did not." Touga answered truthfully.

"What type of disposition do these creatures have? If we are to keep one of these dragolfs' in our land then we have to make sure that she will not turn on us." Maya of the West spoke next.

"Anika has a very good disposition though she hasn't been introduced to strangers yet. She has imprinted on me as her father and on Sesshomaru as her littermate." Touga explained to everyone in the room. Anika was trying to understand what all of the adults in the room were telling her father but her little mind just couldn't grasp on what they were talking about. Shaking her head in frustration Anika chirped questioningly at her father with her head tilted to one side in puzzlement. Touga just gave Anika a comforting rumble from his chest. Anika was getting bored with staying in one spot and decided to go and investigate the strangers thoroughly. Timidly crawling over to one of the two females in the room Anika sniffed her feet and clothing. Anika found that the female had a pleasant scent and two mokomoko tails just like her father except that they were brown in color. Maya let the pup investigate her person as she pleased and enjoyed the pups unique sounds. Reaching down Maya was going to pick up the pup but before she could grasp the pup Anika leaped up in her lap staring into her golden eyes that were so similar to Lord Inutaisho's. Maya watched in amazement as Anika produced a thrumming hum from her little chest that Maya interpreted as an approving sound. Touga was surprised to find that he felt a sliver of jealousy arise in him as he watched his pup interact so familiarly with the council members. Anika however didn't let any of the council members touch her and when they went to pet her wings or pat her head she would either jump to the floor or quickly fly to another person in the room. When Anika reached Rizo of the East she couldn't help but snarl in his face; her little fangs showing. Rizo snarled back at the pup that sat tensely on his lap. Anika gave a loud warning yelp as she spread her wings and quickly flew to her father shaking badly.

"What did you do Rizo? She is shaking like a leaf!" Touga snarled at the council member; his paternal side showing.

"She is an abomination and should be put down before she taints the rest of our country." Rizo's steely blue gaze hardened when he looked at the pup in Touga's lap. At this comment Touga was surprised to find that he wasn't the only one snarling in defense of the pup. Maya, Akito, and Tora were snarling angrily as their gaze's were trained on Rizo.

"All in favor of the pup staying raise your hand."Maya spoke in a confident voice as she raised her hand. Touga was glad that three out of the four council members raised their hands in favor of the pup staying. Hugging Anika close to his chest Touga was very relieved that Anika was able to stay. Anika rubbed her face into her father's chest as she tried to rid herself of the fear that she sharply felt when in Rizo's lap.

"Its okay pup, you're safe now." Touga murmured into Anika's downy hair.