CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Canine Warriors

'Seven warriors down.' I thought to myself and yawned as I walked in a few tight circles; softening the grass beneath my paws. The sun was rising, bathing the whole village in pale morning light, -dew lighting up the leaves on the trees- but all was still quiet. I'd talked with all the dogs the night before and we'd all agreed to go to sleep early, to make sure we'd get up and be ready to set out first thing in the morning. If we didn't set out fairly soon, we wouldn't make it back in time. I'd been the first to wake, none of the others were up yet. Checking Sakuya's map before I laid back down on the grass, I saw one, singular red circle hovering outside the village, which seemed to be inching slowly closer even as the sun rose. I watched it seemingly creep closer and closer as the dawn slowly crept over the hills.

So, on the last day before the full moon, I met the final dog destined to be a warrior. I was laying under one of the giant trees near Susano's house with Ryota, Hana, Jun, Noriko, and Daiko when I saw him walk into the village in the still-early morning. He wandered into Kamiki- a large brown and black dog that wore a ragged, old, dark maroon-colored cloth over his back, and walked with purpose. He looked weary, but when he saw me he lifted his head and picked up his pace. I scrambled to my feet to greet him. Both Ryota and Shisa, the budding leaders of the troupe of warriors were still asleep, but I thought I'd meet this new dog myself, before I'd introduce them. That was my job, after all.

"Hello." The dog said, kneeling down before me politely. "Hello." I replied, dipping my head and curling my long tail around my paws. "Who are you? What brings you to Kamiki village?"

"My name is Hisao. I'm on a quest, but I think, perhaps it has at last come to an end." He barked in a steady, polite voice, looking at me, and he tilted his head. "You have the white coat and markings of a god..." He remarked, and I nodded my head. "Yes; I am a god. My name is Akimeterasu, I'm the daughter of the Sun God Amaterasu." He let out a long breath- his stiff, pointed ears relaxing. "I was sent here by another God; he came to me in a dream after my master died." I saw sorrow flash across his dark eyes, and I listened intently to his story as he began.

"My master was killed when we were attacked by monsters deep in the forest. We were surrounded, and we didn't stand a chance against them. I fought as hard as I could, but I couldn't protect him from their onslaught. They retreated once he was dead, but I refused to leave his side. I stayed with him for days after his death, not eating, not drinking...I refused to leave his side even after his soul had passed on. There I stayed for many days, until at last I fell unconscious from dehydration, or maybe starvation- I do not know. And...I had a dream. A dream that I was in a beautiful misty meadow, and a white flower stood alone in it. When I walked closer, a horse appeared out of the fog, he had a pristine white coat with red spirals decorating his skin, and introduced himself as a God. He named himself as Kazegami, and he said to me my strong loyalty had caught his attention; and he would welcome me into his band of elite warriors whom guard his shrine. He told me to come here to Kamiki Village and find 'The One', who was tasked with a mission to unite the new generation of warriors. He told me I would know them, because they would be like him. I was at first skeptical, but when I awoke I found the same snowy flower had sprung up in the night and bloomed right beside me. So I hunted and drank to regain my strength...then made my way here." He finished. I stared at him, trying to figure out whether he was telling the truth, or just trying to trick me; but why make such an elaborate lie? And how else would he know about me searching for the warriors?

I nodded my head. "Your journey was not in vain, Hisao. I have been gathering candidates to become 'Canine Warriors'- guardians of Kusa Village, and the Gale Shrine. You are the last dog, and you've arrived just in time." I said, as my chest glowed with a purple light.

༄༄༄༄༄༄

I'd just told Hiraku about Hisao's travels, and he reacted differently than most people would after being told such a tragic tale. "Is there some sort of sad-backstory competition going on that I don't know about?" He asked. "Because they keep getting worse." I shook my head and gave him a playful shove with my paw in return. But I had to admit… He wasn't wrong.

We were waiting for Shisa to say goodbye to her people, before heading out to Kusa Village; it was the last thing to be done before leaving. Kei and Gina had taken a very long time to say goodbye, but Gina was very understanding for such a young pup. "I know you'll be a great warrior." She'd said in her gentle tone. "Don't worry about me- I'll be safe here. Now it's my turn to worry about you." She'd flashed a sad smile, blue eyes brimming with tears. "It'll always be my job to worry about you." Kei said softly. "Don't worry, I have a duty to you too Gina, no matter what. I will come back for you, I won't ever abandon you." The female puppy sniffed, and stood a little straighter, blinking away tears. "You have to go, you have to become a warrior." Gina barked. "And I'll be here waiting when you get back." They'd hugged one last time, then it was time for him to join the rest of us. He looked over his shoulder regretfully, but walked to us with his head held high- even though I knew every step must hurt. I knew this goodbye was hard for both of them, being so young, and so dependent on one another. But the orb had selected him, and he needed to follow his path; even if it led him away from his sister. He knew that too, he must have felt the truth reverberate within him from the power of the orb: to be a warrior was his duty. His old one had been fulfilled, his sister was safe, now it was time to obey this one. He had made a promise though, and I would do my best to help him keep it.

Shisa's owners were standing in the doorway of their house, with the fluffy dog sitting before them. They know she's leaving, for a long time- possibly forever. I feel a clench of emotion in my chest as I watch the couple say goodbye to their pet. They bid her farewell, Nobuo bent down to pat her head, and the old woman kneeled, holding her fluffy face. "You be a good girl." She said, tears in the corners of her eyes. The young dog whined, but thumped her tail. Shisa gave them a final lick, before she walked over to us, bringing with her a beautiful, vibrant green cape across her back. "My owners gave it to me." She said, voice calmer than normal, but not sorrowful. "They seemed to know...Somehow, that I'd have to go away, and they made it for me."

Kameyo kneeled down to stroke Gina's fur, and the pup looked up at her, and then wagged her tail. All three of them watched Shisa as she joined us, and waved farewell, tears in the couple's eyes. It took no small amount of courage for either of them to leave, and I respected that. Kei was leaving behind his only family, as was Shisa. I knew Kei trusted that Kameyo and Nobuo would take care of his sister, but Shisa had faith that her people wouldn't give up on her, and wait for her. That they would welcome her back with open arms upon her return. They'll have faith in her, and she'll have faith in them, and her destiny. I turned towards the entrance of the village, and barked to get everyone's attention. "It's time." I said, and we started off, walking between the high, stone cliffs towards Shinshu Field.

༄༄༄༄༄༄

We traveled all day throughout the land towards Kusa. We ran into a few monsters on the way- although only imps and other weaker demons, and we quickly dispatched them. We made it to the edge of Shinshu by midday, and took turns hopping across lily pads and sailing on the giant water plants across the canal. Then we trekked through the quickly-recovering, tranquil trees of Agata Forest. "What do you think it'll be like?" Shisa barked, excited. Noriko shrugged shyly in response, although her smile portrayed her fellow excitement. Ryota walked near the front, by me, and we paused to let the others catch up. Kei was beginning to open up and talk to the others, after staying quiet for most of the journey. "I wonder when they'll start training us how to fight." He chimed in. "I wonder if they'll make us start training as soon as we get there..." Jun whimpered, and I saw Daiko's lips curl. "Thinking of turning back already, coward?" He sniped, and Jun flinched. "Daiko!" I growled. "Be nice!"

Now that I knew Daiko's past, I knew that the saluki did actually dislike Jun, more than just his normal outward disdain that he was trying to get rid of. Daiko viewed him as a coward, a reminder of what he used to be, and someone without honor. "Enough, Daiko." Rumbled Ryota, in his deep bark, and the Saluki looked angry, but kept his mouth shut. "Kudan." He whispered to Jun, before walking away. I sighed, it would take Ryota a lot of effort to get those two to ever get along. We continued on our way, weaving through the trees and stopping to drink from the river. Shisa ran after a herd of deer, and was chased away by a grumpy stag.

We made it to Taka Pass by nightfall and traveled through the pass under the light of the rising full moon, padding in single file. As we approached the bottom of the path that led up to the village I paused, and the others stopped behind me, lining up in single file- at the ready. Even Jun, who still looked a little uncertain, stood among the others.

I watched them with pride, moonlight catching their fur and tails. They'd all fought to be where they were now; seasoned warrior, to dedicated pup. Housepet, to stray. Starlight caught in their eyes as they looked at me, full of hope and determination. They had a long path ahead of them, to become full teammates in their fight to protect the Gale Shrine, to learn how to fulfill their virtues, but they all had what it took- of that I was sure. My chest swelled; these were surely the right choices!

"Come!" I barked loudly, their dark forms outlined by the sharp light of the moon. Tall and short, thick and scrawny, all together as one. "Let's go." I said, gesturing with my tail sideways for them to follow. They slipped into line behind me in almost practiced silence. The only sounds they made were our gentle footfalls on the stone steps up to Kusa Village.

(AN: Another chapter, yay! Even if it is mostly just a filler chapter. :P I actually have two more that are almost completed, so I'll be posting those when I get them finished- which should be relatively soon. ^^ I kind of rushed this one to get to the others, so I might go back and edit it a tiny bit (but nothing extreme). To the next Chaptaaaa~)