If you're curious about the Vajratail's names Kage means Shadow while Shiro means White. Oh and 2 points for the people who notice the Swedish House Mafia song reference.
Chapter 17
She laid there on the ground surrounded by a halo of her own blood. I placed herbs on her wound and tried to stop the bleeding with the pressure of my hands.
"Hang in there mother," I cried out to her. "You're going to be alright."
She gave me a weak smile, "It's too late for me Okami. Now all I can do is wait for the earth to take me in its eternal rest."
"No mother! You mustn't die!" Kage and Shiro surrounded us in panic.
"I've lived a long life Okami. Blessed with three beautiful children, I shall die with no regrets knowing I preserved their presence in this ugly world."
My mother was as beautiful as I remembered, with the presence of cold strength even as she was drawing her last breaths. To think that she was fading away made the coldest winter storm seem too warm without her presence.
"But mother you can't die! We need you, how are we going to survive without you, we love you!"
She then said something that puzzled me for years. For someone so cold she gave off so much warmth. "Don't you worry child. There's a plan for you in this world, which is why you must live on." Then she grunted in pain. "My time is short. I have one final request Okami… When I'm gone… take my face armor, so that I'll be able to protect you even when I'm gone."
Her words were like a knife in my heart. "Mother, I can't do that… It's a cruel thing to ask of me."
"You can do it. Honor my last request child… please." I could only nod with watery eyes. She then looked upon all of us, "take care of each other and look out for one another. Okami you're the eldest so look out for your brothers. Live long my children… survive."
With that the life left her eyes, she was gone.
Shocked awake by a knock on the door, I sat up rubbing my head. It's been a long time since I had that dream… no, relived that memory. Was mother trying to tell me something, was that a warning? The knocking became louder.
"Hey Rookie, get up."
Soma?! I got up and opened the door messy hair and all. "Soma? What is it?"
"Did you forget we have a mission this morning? We have to take down a Vajra."
"Vajra?! Dear God, Yes! It's been far too long since I've taken one down. Oh, this is going to be fun." Soma turned his head away from me for some reason. Perhaps he was embarrassed by my over excitement. Oh well, regardless it was going to be a fun day. "Alright, I'll be ready in a minute. Wait for me okay? At least I got my spear and knife back."
"Hmph."
. . .
That crazy woman, not only did she jump into the fray of the Vajra's lightning attacks, she had the audacity to bull ride its back to get good hits at its skull. It was like she was playing with it while still looking out for her team as she always had a team-bullet or a recovery bullet for each of us. Hell, she even threw me a recover ball when the Vajra got lucky and stunned me.
Now as we checked the perimeter, she checks her salvage items from the Vajra with glee. To our surprise, as we searched the area we bumped into Lindow and the new Rookie.
"What?"
"You guys?" Questions Lindow, surprised by the presence of others in the area, as we meet at the entrance of the church.
"Huh? What are you doing here Lindow?" Kota had a point there.
"Why would they send two teams to the same section?" Sakuya began to walk toward Lindow. "What does this mean?"
Lindow put out his hand to stop her. "Let's worry about that later. We need to finish the mission. Me and Alisa will check the inside, you guys secure the entrance."
As we surrounded the entrance after they went in, Okami started to sniff the air.
"Soma."
"What."
"There's a strange smell in the air."
"What?"
There was a roar that came from the church and the Rookie cried out in distress. Sakuya left to check it out; suddenly a rumbling sound came from inside the church and we were surrounded by Prithvi Matas. There were three of them closing in on us.
"Alisa what have you done!" Sakuya cried out along with shots, what the hell was going on in there? Did the Rookie trap Lindow in there?!
"This isn't good… we're surrounded here too damn it." I heard a growl to my side, looking I saw Okami feral and blood thirsty like a cornered beast. She wouldn't blindly charge in there? "Rookie, No!"
She didn't listen, my only reply was a roar that rivaled any Aragami's as she leaped at them. She pulled out her spear and thrusting it at the skull of one only to later dodge another. She leaped on the one that charged at her, biting into its jugular.
I tried to fight my way toward her, but the third one kept getting in my way. Sakuya needed to get Lindow out of there soon or Okami was in trouble.
"Hurry the hell up or we'll be surrounded!" I sliced at the one in front of me making it pull back.
"Take Alisa back to the Den with you. That's an order." Lindow wasn't serious?
"But-" Sakuya pleaded but he cut her off.
"Didn't you hear me?! Take Alisa and head back to the Den, damn you!" Dear God, he was serious. "Sakuya! Take charge of the others! Soma! Find a way out of here!"
Alisa let out a tiny whimper, "Daddy… Mommy… I didn't mean it."
"Hurry Lindow! Come with us!" Sakuya pleaded some more as Kota grabbed Alisa carrying her on his back.
"I like to, but I think I'll handle these guys first." Lindow say playfully. "Save some ration beer for me."
"Then I'll stay and fight too."
"Sakuya… I'm ordering you… Make sure you get everyone home alive."
"No!" Sakuya cried out knowing what he was implying. Kota had to start dragging Sakuya away.
"Sakuya come on! If we stay we'll all end up dead!"
"I won't go! Lindow!"
Damn I still had to get Okami! Just as I broke through the Aragami that blocked the entrance, Kota and Sakuya ran toward the starting point with Alisa while I tried to retrieve Okami. She was smacked to the ground by a Prithvi Mata which was about to strike before I struck down at it, pushing it back. I pulled her up with a little more force than necessary and grabbed her arm to pull her away.
"Rookie we've got to go! Now!" She didn't reply she just resisted me, roaring as she tried to jump back into the fray. "This isn't a fight we can win, dammit! We have to retreat!" All she did was roar louder and resisted harder.
"Okami!" That made her stop; I guess I've never called her by her name out loud before. "Your pact needs you, fall back." With that the fight left her as she allowed me to drag her toward the escape.
Damn him… can't even follow his own orders… Shit! The Chopper ride was a flying funeral. Alisa was a wreck; Sakuya was balling her eyes out, and Kota was gloomy –now that was something. Okami was staring out the Chopper door toward the City of Mercy. She was fighting back the tears with all her might. A tear escaped her eye, then another. With that she let out a heart breaking roar then lowered her head to the ground banging her fist down with it. Damn that Lindow, couldn't he think about the consequences of his actions before going off to play 'hero?'
It seems that the funeral followed us to the Den. Sakuya locked herself in her room and the Den was covered with an air of gloom. Kota tried his best to cheer up the Den, but to little avail. Alisa was immediately taken to the Sick Bay, and Okami left for her room. Somehow I found myself knocking on her door, when she didn't answer I let myself in. There she was, lying on her bed staring at the ceiling.
"Hey."
"... Hey."
"Look… With our line of work people die every day. All we can do is move forward and keep on fighting."
"My mother told me before she died, 'Don't you worry child, there's a plan for you in this world, that is why you must live on.'" Then she turned her head to look at me by the wooden dresser between her bed and the door. "Lindow is strong, he cannot die so easily. I only grieve because he has to face his plan alone."