DO NOT ENTER THE FOREST

23.- Spirits

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InuYasha was walking at a steady pace, so that Kagome wouldn't need to hurry her steps. She was pale, with light bags under her eyes, he could see; as if she had spent long hours in the middle of the forest. Only two things, she had said to him; the first, his name, and the second, we need to get out of here.

A bit along the path, they caught sight of lights like cold flames, dancing in the darkness, and InuYasha's senses sharpened before the wails around them. The two of them drew near, almost stalking to not be heard, and in a small forest clearing, they saw the spirits, pleading before a great sacred tree. The ropes and talismans surrounding it were smeared by a blood that shone before the touch of the spirits' cold flames.

The tree was split in the middle, just as if lightning had struck it.