Kouga placed the priestess on her feet who immediately dashed through the waterfall. She was surprised to find at the mouth of the den a number of wolf demons laying on the ground. The females sat around them wetting their faces and administrating medicine. Some were in tears at the sides of their mates.What's going on here? Kagome wondered. The wolf tribe leader followed her in and turned to an older female who was crushing a plant in a small wooden bowl.
"Elder, what is happening?" Kouga asked worriedly.
The old woman sighed, "Wolf Prince, I've tried everything I could, I've used every herbal remedy known to cure a Youkai of his sickness and none of them worked."
The priestess's eyes widened. What could she possibly do then? No way was she to know more than an elder demon. Just as was about to ask what remedies were used a strange feeling consumed her. She wanted nothing more than to run back out of the cave but her legs were frozen. Kagome fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around her stomach.
"Kagome!" Kouga shouted dashing to her side. He brought a strong arm around her shoulder pulling her close.
It was a strange feeling. She felt scared and in pain like something was ripping the life out of her. Kagome sensed a looming presence behind them but as she turned her head nothing was there. Something wasn't right.
Kouga shook her gently, "What is it Kagome?"
She was desperate to find the words to describe what it was she was feeling but was at a loss. At the arrival of her friends Miroku was the first to detect the strange force. He waved his staff in the air in a circular motion and stamped it to the ground. An invisible gust of wind rustled the chimes at the end of the wooden rod. He frowned. "Something is here," Miroku spoke slowly looking around the cave.
Sango, dressed in demon slaying attire held onto hiraikotsu whilst Shippo clung to the back of the giant Kirara's head in attempts to shield himself from the unseen power. "What is it?" the demon slayer asked.
From within his robes Miroku withdrew a talisman made of parchment and placed it firmly on the wall and muttered softly to himself. "Fear be gone, take the misfortune you bestowed away from this I claim untouched."
The feeling disappeared from within Kagome. Kouga helped the girl to her feet and gazed around at his people. The men who were once affected sat up slowly and looked around confused. "What in the hell was that?" The Wolf Prince growled and glared at the monk.
Miroku tucked the spiritual piece of paper away, "It is gone, for now."
Shippo poked his head up from behind the cat demon's head. "We get that it's gone, but what was it that you chased away?"
The monk stroked his chin, "Fear."
"Fear?" Kagome whispered.
"Yes, at least that is what my family often called it. When I was child a strange unseen being my Father called Fear struck a village near by. All of villagers worse nightmares came to life and infected their homes."
Sango stared at the monk in shock, "What ended up happening to them?"
"My father chanted the prayer I just performed and drove it out, however it moves onto the next near by being who casts any type of emotion. It leeches to those who most often live in fear. He ended up sealing the beast into a stone with the help of the village priestess."
"But it's back," Kagome finished.
"Yes, and so I must ask," the monk turned to Ginta and Hakkaku, "did you catch wind of what happened on their trip?"
Ginta shook his head, "No, we were standing guard at the waterfall when our brothers arrived-"
"They were crawling on their hands and knees, I'm surprised they even made it back," Hakkaku explained.
Miroku stepped forward and gazed at the recovering warriors. "One of you, please come forward and explain what happened."
A small boy stepped forward, his wolf tail swaying behind him as he stumbled toward his leader. Kouga peered down at the boy curiously. The whole room's eyes were on him.
He gulped, "I followed them, I saw everything."
A female from the back of the room scolded the boy, "Akito!"
He turned to the woman and frowned, "I'm sorry Mom, I just wanted to go on a hunting trip like older brother."
"Go on," urged Kouga.
"They were hunting in the woods below the mountains. While I was following them in hiding I a saw a white ape talking to a boulder... I thought it was strange but I just continued following the group when they all began to fall over in pain... I helped them back here."
"Naraku," the wolf leader growled softly meeting Kagome's concerned gaze.
"We have to stop him," she insisted.
"We will, however it is getting dark," Miroku nodded, "I'd rather us not be chasing an invisible force at night when we can hardly see our way down the mountain."
"And you're certain whatever you did will keep my tribe safe from that thing?" Kouga asked.
Miroku gave a firm nod, "Without a doubt."
Sango allowed her boomerang to slump against her back, "It is settled then, we will leave at first light."
The fox demon child sighed with relief as he hopped off of the large cat demon and jumped into Kagome's arms. She held the kitskune close. It couldn't be peaceful here forever... Kagome thought to herself. It had been far to long traveling for it to be this peaceful. Chaos was bound to ensue. The Elder gave Kouga a small nod of acknowledgment before heading to the back of the cave disappearing behind a hanging brown fur. He waved his hand in forwarding motion.
"Let us eat and prepare for tomorrow... We will need all of our strength."
The Youkai lead them in a bit farther towards a fire pit where two females began stacking a number of large branches. A fire was started within minutes and the gang was resting around the warm flames emitting from the rock pile. Kagome still held the tiny fox demon in her arms who was amused by the boar they began to roast over a spit. The tribe's leader who normally was enamored by the priestess's presence seemed to be anywhere but in the cave right then. Sango rested her back against Kirara's sleeping form. She was hoping to find out more about what had happened to be prepared for tomorrow when she was struck with a thought. "Kouga, if this being lives out a person's worse fear why is it that your men came down with sickness?"
This question pried the wolf demon from his wondering mind and back to the current situation at hand. "Welp, it's a common thing to be scared of, losing the men. Our women are strong but without their mates, our warriors and hunters, we would struggle and eventually like others... die out."
"Die out?" Kagome wondered a loud.
Kouga stared at the human girl with sad eyes, "We are one of the few tribes left. Our survival is important to ensure our race of demon will not go extinct."
"I see," Miroku frowned, "luckily I know how to deal with this menace but there is one thing I require in order to seal away the evil entity once more."
"And that would be?" Sango raised a brow.
"A Priestess."
Kagome's cheeks turned a bright pink, "You couldn't possibly mean me?"
"Well, either it's you or Kikyo," he caught Sango and Kouga's glare and quickly added, "I understand she isn't someone we want to seek out on a normal basis but Kagome isn't as familiar with her powers where as Kikyo is."
The modern day priestess felt her heart drop. Surely if they were to search for her they'd end up finding Inuyasha. Whenever he wasn't with them he was with her. She promised not to get jealous but something inside of her still yearned for the dog demon's companionship. She wasn't quite as over him as she wanted to be. However, Miroku was right. Kagome barely knew anything about her Miko powers. The only skill she possessed was the ability to shoot the sacred arrow. Striking down an opponent, no problem, but sealing away one? Maybe they did need to find the priestess made of clay.
Kouga noticed the sadness that lingered behind Kagome's calm exterior as she gazed at the cave's floor. "Kagome," he grunted, "we don't need her, I know you can do it."
The teenage girl blinked in surprise, "Kouga, I'm flattered but Miroku is right."
The wolf demon shook his head, "No way Kagome! You're will is incredibly strong. If anyone can beat this thing I know you can."
Shippo leaped out of her arms and proudly struck a small fist at his chest, "I believe in you Kagome!"
"I do as well," Sango smiled.
The encouragement from her friends lit a fire inside of Kagome. With so many cheering her on, there's no way she'd let them down. If the dog demon was here he would have left in search of his ex-lover already. The priestess had to prove that she, Kagome Higurashi, High School Student and modern day Priestess was just as strong as Kikyo.