Wolves
This story is rated PG-13 for sexual situations
Chapter 8 - Tsume
"Why did you attack a Bobcat?' Tsume growled at the wolves that had been with his son.
"We thought he was a Cat." The closest wolf answered, cringing at the leader's growl.
"You could not tell the difference between a Cat and a Bobcat!" The wolf hastily backed away, just out of his leader's reach. "And now my son is badly wounded and a captive!"
Everything was going wrong! They had gone all the way to the mountains between Demon World and Suzaku, carefully avoiding the patrols and the White Tower, and the three Great Dragons that lived there. They had moved only by night, staying well hidden during the day. They had stayed in their wolf forms so that anyone who happened to glimpse them would think them only part of Kouga's wolves, and in two nights, everything had gone wrong. The whole plan was now a disaster!
It had seemed so simple: kill Kouga, take control of the wolves, and bring them back to Demon World to help in the fight against the Cats. The Cats had been decimated in the Three Worlds War, two-thirds of their clan killed by the Blood Demons, and for many years, peace had reigned between the Wolves and the Cats. But the Cats had spent those years procreating like crazy.. something that the Wolves, who mated for life, could not compete with. Soon their clan was even larger than before and they had outgrown their land and looked with greedy eyes to the Wolves' territory. Many Wolves had already died trying to defend their homeland in the one-sided fight. There were just too many Cats! But there were hundreds of wolves in Otherworld. Not as powerful as Demon Wolves, but still wolves, and still capable of helping in the war.
So Tsume had taken three dozen wolves with him to Otherworld to bring back reinforcements. Their leader Kouga was the only problem, but they did not think he would be much of one. He no longer could transform into his powerful wolf counterpart; his only power was the crystal shards he wore for speed. Stop the speed and you stop the wolf. But Tsume had made the first error when he mistook Kome for his father. Damn! Those two looked almost exactly alike! Now Kouga had been warned and had already doubled the patrols. Then Kiba, his oldest son, had foolishly attacked a Bobcat and had gotten wounded and captured. His men were watching him, waiting for his command, but he didn't have the faintest idea what to do.
They were gathered around the bed. Kurama had removed his plants and soon the boy would awaken. The Princess was at his side, ready to blanket the boy with calmness if needed, Kaiba was there to examine his wounds and Kurama was there to question him. Long minutes passed and finally the boy began to stir. A finger twitched and then he gave a small moan as he began to wake up. Large teal-colored eyes opened and he looked at the group standing over him and gave a small nervous smile.
Kaiba examined his wounds quickly and then nodded. Kurama moved closer.
"My name is Kurama and I am the head of the Protectors of Otherworld."
The boy nodded. "Hello," he whispered, his eyes never leaving the Fox's face. He knew well who Kurama was, the Fox Demon in a human body.
"And I am Aara."
Her voice was gentle, calm, and the boy looked in her direction and smiled. "Princess Aara, it is an honor to meet you. I am Kiba."
"Please tell us why the Demon Wolves are attacking Kouga." Aara said in the same gentle tone, but this time she used more of her power, adding trust to the calmness she was already sending out.
Kiba blinked, then his smile grew wider, his eyes dreamy. Slowly, his words just a little slurred, the boy told them about his father's plan and about the greed of the Cat Clan.
"We must stop this plan before anyone else gets hurt." Aara said, looking at Kurama.
"We need to find your father and talk to him." Kurama said to the boy.
"He is probably somewhere near the Castle." Kiba said, and then added. "But he will be hard to find. The pack will be well hidden."
Kurama thanked the boy and then moved to leave, "Princess, I am going to send Aniki and Kamqqi to find the wolves and invite the leader to the Castle so that we can settle this. I will also send for Kouga."
"Good idea. I will stay here a while longer with Kiba. He needs to eat something before Kaiba puts him back to sleep." Aara said, sitting at the boy's side and taking his limp hand. It was rough, calloused, proof of the hard life of Demon World. The boy blinked sleepily.
"I'll send up a bowl of broth for him." Kurama said as he left the room.
It took Kamui half a day to find the wolves. They were well hidden indeed! The pack was resting under the trees in wolf form. Aniki dropped down from the clouds, landing right in front of the startled pack. As one they sprang to their feet, fangs bared and growling. A large gray wolf with a double slash of white on his chest, moved to the front, but did not advance. He could feel the power in this young man. What was he?
"We come in peace, as emissaries from the Princess of Otherworld. She would like to talk to Tsume."
Surprise registered on the wolf's face - how did they know his name? - and then he transformed into his human form.
"Do you have my son?"
"Yes, he is under the care of our healer mage, Kaiba."
"Who are you?"
"I am Aniki, the fifth male of Princess Aara. This is Kamui, one of the Protectors."
A Thunder Demon! No wonder he could sense the boy's power. Kamui was a Bat Demon with crystal shards to augment his sonar. That's how the pack had been found so easily. He had definitely underestimated Otherworld's power.
"The Princess requests that you come to the Castle tomorrow in the mid-afternoon. You may bring as many of your clan as you'd like. All are welcome." With those words, Aniki picked up Kamui and flew away.
"What are we going to do?"
Tsume looked at his wolves, "We go see the Princess of Otherworld."