CHAPTER EIGHT

Kusanagi Village

The door that I slashed open led into a strange dark corridor that ended in a room with a marking carved into the floor that much resembled a cherry bomb. I traced it, and the newly-created bomb sank into the floor. Then after a dulled 'boom' the floor started to move upwards at a steady pace. I looked up, and for a second worried about running into the oncoming ceiling, but a panel slid away and we were blinded by sudden, but beautiful sunlight.

I blinked a few times to get used to the bright light, and saw that the little platform had taken us to the top of the giant trunk that overlooked Hitoshio Spring; a small spring fed by the empty stump of what was once a giant tree. Water flowed from the hollow branches and out of the base of the tree into the pool. The pond had no offshoots, but the water in it never got stagnant because of the Mermaid Spring swirling within. We'd been in those dark, dank ruins for so long, I felt like I was coming back to life as I breathed in the fresh forest air.

I leaped down from the top of the trunk, and walked along the water's edge, then I bent down to drink from it. The sweet, sacred spring water tasted clear and refreshing on my tongue as I lapped at it. A few deer approached on the far side of the bank and dipped their heads down as well. I remembered in mother's tales that Kushi uses water from this spring to make 8 Purification Sake. After tasting it, I wasn't surprised she would make such a journey for this water. Hiraku crouched beside me, taking off his hat to use as it a giant bowl, and drinking as well. I lifted my head and looked around, water dripping from my muzzle. I felt revitalized, and ready to keep going. "Where to now?" The poncle said, looking at me, and I tilted my head to think. 'With Tsuta Ruins freed from evil, we're left with a very vague goal of finding the rest of the new Gods. So much evil still remains in Nippon… Spread throughout the land, so we can go almost anywhere.'

"Well…" I said, padding away from the spring, when suddenly something large appeared out of the grass in front of us. "WOAH!" Hiraku and I both shouted, and I fell backwards in surprise. A black spot rose from the ground, rising into the shape of a creature with no discernible form; only a shapeless dark spot with white eyes that stared around, taking in the forest. It looked at us and appeared to laugh, shadowy wings taking form. Spirals came off them as it lifted off and sped away across the sky, fading away into the distance. "What the heck?" Hiraku said, staring after it. "What was that thing? " I could only shake my head- mystified. I had no idea what it was. I'd never heard of anything like it in the Bestiary, although it was certainly a demon. It gave off no life-energy, and it pulsed of evil. Yet, it was almost familiar…

I looked around again, and saw a pair of small bright eyes staring at me from out of a bush. My fur bristled in nervousness and I walked closer, they weren't the blank eyes of the shadow-monster, but dark, almost black. They blinked and disappeared, back into the bush. Brows furrowing, I said: "That's strange."

"Yeah…" Hiraku said, bouncing off my head and towards the bush to check it. "Something was watching us." I walked closer as well, but whatever had been hiding in the leaves was gone now. "What were you saying before Akime?" He turned back towards me, and I remembered where I was going to suggest we go.

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A strong breeze ruffled my fur as I rounded the corner of the cliff. In front of us stood Kusa Village, and I wagged my tail. I'd always wanted to see the famous windmill of Kusa Village: the Gale Shrine. It towered above the village, and waved peacefully in the powerful wind. I frowned, and tilted my head. In such a gale, I thought it would have been turning. However, the village in front of me was bright and full of life. Flowers blooming, a few women talking around the well, a farmer happily tending to his squash, it was a very nice, relaxed area- free of monsters. Even if the windmill wasn't turning, the village was still blessed by Kazegami.

I looked up the path, and blinked in surprise. A dog, fluffy and pale pink in color, was staring at me. It had a muzzle that was white with age, was wearing something that resembled a cape on its back, and it had the same dark eyes as the creature that had been watching us in the forest. After a few more seconds it turned around and started back up the hill. "Hey, wait!" I barked, and ran after it. I charged up the path to the right out of the village square, farther ahead there was a long bridge. Even farther along was a structure that looked like it had a view of all Taka pass. I dashed around the corner, looking for the pale pink dog, and saw it out of the corner of my eye, this time it was standing on the bridge- still watching me. But it, -no- she was waving her tail in a beckoning motion at us.

"I'm starting to get the feeling that dog wants us to follow her Akime." Hiraku said, bouncing on my nose and blocking some of my view. "I'm getting the same feeling…" I told him in response. I didn't know who the dog was, but I had a hunch that this was one of the eight legendary canine warriors. The cloth, the orb under her neck, I was almost positive. So I continued to follow the strange dog through the village, and just when I thought she was out of sight, she'd appear again.

She led us past what I assumed to be the Satomi house, and went right under a gate with purple fire on top. We wound our way through a passage between two high cliffs until it opened up, and to the left I saw a gaping hole in the mountain. We continued until we were outside of the cave I knew had to be the Gale Shrine, and she tilted her head towards the mouth of the cave then entered herself. I padded forward hesitantly, the cavern seemed to be near pitch-black. I trotted into the cave, my claws clicking over stone. I couldn't see the pink dog anymore, so I started to run. It was damp inside the cave, and I ran through several puddles. It surprisingly wasn't very dark inside, I could see fairly well. I came to a room full of stalactites, and ran through an open gate to the left. I then found myself in a large open area with a giant pool in it.

I caught a glimpse of her tail disappearing down a passageway to the right, so I ran after her. Running through the winding stone tunnel, until it widened into a large circular dead-end. Then I saw she wasn't alone, six other dogs sat around her in a semicircle, a glowing orange orb in the center of them, apparently waiting for something; and a thought flashed into my mind: 'Me.'

They all looked toward us, many had serious expressions on their faces, and some of them were faded-out, like they weren't really there, but the pink dog smiled. "Chi, is this the one?" Barked one of the other dogs, and the pink dog nodded. "Are we sure she's worthy?" One dog whispered to another. "She entered and escaped from within Tsuta Ruins, which few warriors have ever done, that means she is brave." The pink dog said, in a higher-pitched bark, and the other dogs steadily nodded in assent. "Are you Akimeterasu?" The one dog barked, and looked towards Hiraku and I. I dipped my head in affirmation, and out of the corner of my eye- saw the other dogs exchange glances.

"We heard rumors that a God had come to Nippon." Said another dog, and chuckled at our confused expressions. "News travels fast here, especially among bored village women." A white-green pointer coughed, and the others turned their attention to him. "We are glad that Chi managed to find you so quickly Akimeterasu, because we have all been summoned here from our different homes-" The old dog wheezed and another had to finish for him. "-to answer a call that cannot be dismissed." Said a smaller brown dog, who looked young compared to all the other warriors. I recognized him from my mother's descriptions. "You're Hayabusa! But weren't you in Kamiki Village?" I exclaimed, remembering the brown dog that had bowled the teenaged boy over. "Yes," the dog said, flattening his ears, "I am in Kamiki Village, but in spirit, I am connected to my fellows, allowing me to speak here. Due to my duties in Kamiki, I have not ever been to meet the other warriors in person-"

"That's enough," One dog growled, the pointer-like dog with green spots. "It's true that Hayabusa has never been to the Gale Shrine, because the true Hayabusa chose him as her successor…" The dog continued, glaring at the brown Hayabusa, making him shrink away. "But he understands the meaning of Loyalty, so he has earned his spot in our ranks." The brown dog perked his ears and smiled. "After all, he will be joining us here very soon." The pointer said, and another warrior spoke up. "All the warriors must answer the call!"

"Let's get back to the problem at hand." One fluffy, fat brown-and-white warrior barked. "Don't you mean 'paw'?" Hiraku asked, and the brown and white dog gave him a disapproving glance. "We are growing old, and soon there will be no warriors to guard the village, to spread word of the Gods, nor to protect Nippon!" A boxer growled angrily from his side of the circle in a deep voice. "That is why you are here, Akimeterasu," The dog who led me here spoke in a higher-pitched bark. "We are weak and cannot go on long journeys anymore. We need new warriors, that you can bring here for us to train." "New warriors?" We both exclaimed. "You're saying you want US to go and seek out mutts for you to train." Hiraku said. "That is correct," The white and green dog spoke again. "We thought, who other than a god could make the right choice?" The other warriors nodded, then he smiled. "Besides ourselves."

"What about princess Fuse? Couldn't she help?" I asked. "She understands the severity of this problem, but we have requested her to leave this problem to the dogs." The green one barked, smiling. "Her duties as village leader are, as of now, too overwhelming for her to take leave and search for new warriors." The dog looked to me. "So we must ask you, Akimeterasu; will you help us? Surely you can choose dogs with the right qualities." I paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement, "I will. I shall try my hardest to find eligible dogs." 'What's the harm in helping these dogs? My mother had told me about them, and "though they were very bossy, and slightly obnoxious, they were great warriors".' I thought to myself, remembering her description of them. Hiraku leaped off my head, into the center of the circle. "Ok, but what's in it for us?" He questioned. Seeing the shock on their faces, I quickly set my paw down on his head to make him be quiet.

"We will wait here at the shrine." A wolf-like dog with the faded appearance of not really being there spoke in a raspy voice. "Bring the new warriors here at the next full moon."

"And before you leave, let us give you something you will need on your journey." A darker pink dog with a blossom-marking on his side said, and the female warrior continued after him: "Since you are to find the new warriors, these will help you choose the right ones. It only makes sense to bring them with you to meet their new masters: Honor, Justice, Loyalty, Faith, Brotherhood, Duty, Wisdom, and Knowledge." Chi said, and a glowing orb emerged from each of the dogs, -all a different color- to join the one in the center, and then circled around me, before diving into my chest. I felt empowered, like my veins were alive with energy. "Use these eight virtues to choose the new warriors." She said. "The new dogs need to understand and live these virtues before they could ever possibly become Satomi warriors." All the elder warriors dipped their heads like one being, and then as if on cue they broke apart; the traveling three vanished to return to their bodies, and the other four went to sides of the cave to sit, or chew something, or talk.

I lifted my paw off Hiraku and he was glowing red with anger, but he didn't say anything. The pink dog raised her head from chewing a bone and looked at me. "I wish you well on your journey." Chi said. "Remember, the dogs must show these attributes for them to be worthy, you will know when you see it." She smiled. "Yeah, yeah." Grumbled Hiraku. I wondered how these dogs knew we were coming, not even gossip could have spread this fast. Perhaps Kazegami- their patron god, had sent them a omen or a message in a dream. I rose to my paws, bowed my head respectfully then trotted back down the tunnel.

"Why are you so intent on impressing those guys?" Hiraku suddenly said, staring me in the eyes. "They're just a bunch of old, spoiled-."

"They're our elders, and they need our help. Why shouldn't we offer it?" I stopped, staring back at him. He stayed quiet and I smiled. 'I've already seen first-hand his arrogant nature, and I'm not surprised he doesn't respect those older than him. It no doubt has gotten him into a lot, if not almost constant, trouble before.' I trotted out of the cave and into the tunnel, following the narrow passage back to the light of Kusa Village.

(AN: Thank you everyone for the reviews, it makes me happy to see other people happy. C: Please, keep it up, and if you have any critiques, don't hold back; I want to improve.

New mission! Akime has to find new canine warriors, ones that are tough, strong, brave, and virtuous! That may be even harder than it sounds...

I think the Satomi orbs would have returned to their owners once Ammy was done with them, so that's why they have them, but the Canine Tracker stayed with Ammy.

Now some answers to reviews- Chibi appears indirectly in the story, being mentioned here and there, while Ammy appears in person (and will again in dreams). I don't have him currently planned to make an actual appearance in TDO, but I did have a spot where I was maybe going to introduce him before... And I could change my mind later on. Akime feels admiration towards Chibi, and they rarely fight. When they were little, she used to turn to him for help. For being a little wolf, Chibi is awfully mature (in-game and out). Calm-headed, experienced, compassionate, while Akime is more fiery, more rash, playful, and quicker to judge. She's calmed down since she was a pup, but she will act as soon as she's made a decision, while Chibi will wait and try to think of a better alternative. They have a very loving brother-sister relationship. This is skipped over a lot in TDO, because Chibi was away so much in their puphood.

As for the 'love', who's to say it's not both man and wolf? ;) The Gods have the capacity to turn human if they wished, but many prefer to stay in their original forms (like Akime- she's going to stay in wolf form for the course of the story). That's all for now, thanks again for the reviews!)