InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Always: Part three of When a Door Closes, Another Opens ❯ The Accession ( Chapter 2 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Namiyo11 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Drama / Fantasy / Romance | Type: Fanfiction Sequel | Uploaded On: 05.14.2008 | Updated On: 05.14.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.7K | Visits: 227 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Drama / Fantasy / Romance | Type: Fanfiction Sequel | Uploaded On: 05.14.2008 | Updated On: 05.14.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.7K | Visits: 227 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 2-The Accession
No, I do not own Inuyasha. I do, however, own Karyuudo, Yari, Bara, Hitogoroshi, and Hisui.
Recap: The Inu travel to Kaede’s village to keep an appointment on the New Moon. While Inuyasha and Miroku work on dealing with Shippo’s growing disobedience, Kagome learns not all of Kikyou has been reabsorbed. The Wolves and Panthers, now leaderless or much reduced, lick their wounds. What happens now? Read on!
This chapter takes place around the same time as the last one.
In the mountains, much was happening. What had been Kouga’s pack’s territory was under dispute. One of the finest hunting grounds in the Territories, the Tribal elders decided only the pack of the new Lord of the Tribe should take possession. To that end, they had summoned all of the remaining leaders as soon as news of the disaster with the Dokueki had reached them. On the stone ledges before the caves, more than one fought, seeking dominance as the rest watched and jostled for position. It was their way, the strongest rose to lead. A sensible system.
One pack leader held himself apart.
Karyuudo crouched on an outcrop, watching silently with his packsecond standing beside him. He led a smaller pack, up near the treeline in the northern end of their tribe’s lands, and was here only because the Elders had bidden all pack leaders come. Karyuudo was a clever, straightforward wolf-and had no desire to rule more. Let these lowslope and valley fools seek position as they pleased. Not him.
The short, whipcord lean wolf frowned as he watched another challenge taking place, sharp black eyes narrowed. He wore the armor and the black fur kilt of his kind, one clawed hand lightly gripping a spear as he studied the contenders. His short russet hair caught the breeze as the scents of musk and sweat were carried to his nose, acrid with a tinge of blood. Sharp features gave him a hard, predatory look at he glanced up at his taller, heavier built companion. Yari, his packbrother and second, was more muscular with long, black hair pulled into a braid behind the grey fur headband that matched his eyes. They hardly shifted, both holding themselves with easy grace as they looked on.
“How long do we stay? Long time already and I don’t like it here,” Yari asked. He was impatient to return home. They’d traveled three hard days to get here at top speed, the first such trip out of their isolated territory since Kouga had risen to lead long before-thanks to his shards. A sad day for the Tribe, really.
“Until it’s done,” Karyuudo answered, his voice, as always, very soft and measured.
“I think it will be soon then. Seems Hitogoroshi’s likely to lead us,” Yari commented, gripping his own spear tightly as a pack leader showed throat to the massive wolf in question. Hitogoroshi, who was actively seeking to press his position in these fights. He had nearly defeated Kouga when the former leader had lost his shards. Lost? No-gave them away. Ironically to the girl who ruined him from the gossip. This Kagome woman.
A shrug met this.
Hitogoroshi, though, he did something uncouth. When these types of fights were undertaken, they continued until one of them two died or showed throat, then the defeated were allowed to go on their way. Perhaps they went home to be challenged by their own packmates, perhaps not. Kouga had won by simply refusing to give in...but the pack leader the big wolf had beaten had submitted. He was getting up, a wrist broken, battered...and Hitogoroshi kicked his legs out from under him. The grey haired, grizzled wolf grabbed the smaller leader’s neck-and twisted savagely.
The limp form in his large hands was dropped, and he smiled as Karyuudo straightened slightly. Hitogoroshi had just earned the quiet wolf’s undivided attention. One did not kill after receiving submission. No worthy leader did so, it was wasteful. Doubly so when they were badly depleted by Kouga’s stupidity.
Karyuudo hated wastefulness.
“See my strength! Who dares challenge me!?” Hitogoroshi roared, and several...looked away. Not in shame, but to reject his challenge. Submitting without even token resistance to a fool out of fear, the stink of it rose from many of them. Not having the guts to stand up to a bully. Yari just winced. Oh, no...Karyuudo would not like this. Not a bit.
‘Damn it,’ Yari thought. Karyuudo decided, and stood up.
The quiet wolf rose and looked down levelly, meeting the much larger Hitogoroshi’s gaze. Yari accepted his pack leader’s spear when it was absently held out for him to take. Challenge. Hitogoroshi smirked. Karyuudo. Who hadn’t even bothered to challenge Kouga even after he lost his shards. Who led a small pack, and held a poor territory. Hardly impressive-but he would be entertaining.
He ignored the fact that Kouga had always kept a weather eye on the quiet pack leader...with good reason. Because Karyuudo held what he wished, no more-and no less. A dangerous creature who knew exactly what he wanted, obtained it, and maintained it. The former leader had just been happy all he wanted was his small pack, his isolated lands, his daughter Hisui and temperamental mate Bara.
“Well, well! Proud Karyuudo finally leaves his watchpost! Come then!” Hitogoroshi yelled, laughing. The smaller wolf barely came up to his chest and had a correspondingly shorter reach. He leapt down and approached, gaze level.
“Very well,” Karyuudo said-and Hitogoroshi lunged. Quick as a striking cat, the small wolf dodged under the intended blows, lashing out with his foot and taking the larger wolf in the throat. His own momentum helped drive the blow deep, nearly crushing the larynx. As Hitogoroshi stumbled, staggering as he purpled and tried to breathe, he was kicked in the back of the head and hands closed on him at the precise angle to break his neck.
“Show throat,” Karyuudo said quietly. Hands clutching his chest as he tried to get some air...Hitogoroshi obeyed and he was permitted to stagger away. At this, everyone looked down. Everyone. At this, the elders approached.
Oh, crap.
“Well done. You have great strength, and fine control,” one said mildly. Karyuudo wanted to kick himself as he looked around. No one was challenging? No one? Just one would do. Any. This is what he got for being annoyed, he reminded himself, stomach sinking. Granted, they needed a better leader than that proud idiot Kouga or that murderous incompetent-but not him! Surely not him?
Yari just shook his head as his pack leader...became the new Lord of the Tribe.
***
“Well done, my Lord,” Yari said later, when the others left and the rest of the pack was sent for to claim their new territory.
“Shut up,” Karyuudo told him, crouching again in his new favorite spot, the outcrop.
“Oh, I think not. Of all the stupid, idiotic things to do, you had to get angry and challenge that baka. Bara will flay you for this, you know, when she gets here,” Yari announced with a smirk. Karyuudo twitched in horror and Yari grinned wider. He could slaughter an entire village of humans or take control of the entire tribe without changing expression-but he cowered from the wrath of his bold, fiery mate.
“Likely,” the new Lord agreed with a small sigh. Bara hated the low slopes, he’d never hear the end of it. In truth, he didn’t care for them much either. The waterfall was nice though. Hisui liked them, that was something. Perhaps he could duck behind their cub until his Bara calmed down. A good plan, one he made note to follow.
“So-do we war with the Inu now? What’s next?” Yari inquired with a serious glint under a teasing smile. That was his job, after all, to make sure Karyuudo didn’t flee his new responsibilities, to help him as a packsecond should. Keep him thinking and on target.
“I don’t know,” Karyuudo answered.
He didn’t know Lord Sesshomaru save by reputation and rumor, his lands didn’t touch theirs, nor did they trade with the Inu. His Father had met the mighty Inutaisho, once. He had spoken of him as a great leader, and an honorable one. The son-no, sons...were unknown to him, and would have to be studied and their ways learned, also the now infamous Kagome woman as well.
Many had been lost, thanks to her cunning. She’d nearly broken them. One hanyou female, and she’d brought a Tribe to their knees with her powers and allies. How many swayed in her wake? She’d destroyed Kouga by toying with his lust, kept the new Second Lord of the Inu in her thrall, and maintained Priestly allies, was supposedly once a Priestess herself. Had wormed her way into the confidence of Lord Sesshomaru and was rumored to be his right hand and near equal in power.
Not someone he wished to tangle with if it could be avoided. Not now.
They couldn’t afford a war right now, not with their numbers so small, but they were owed recompense for the ambush. Something could be done, perhaps. He’d need to learn more before he came to a decision. From what news he’d gotten, Kouga was such an idiot he hadn’t grasped she wished another and had not simply offered to pact with the Inu out of common interest. But then, Karyuudo was mated and a sire of young, he understood such things better then a young unmated fool like Kouga. He could understand why she would do anything for her chosen.
Youkai lived for mates. Killed for mates. And died for them sometimes.
He could understand, yes. Karyuudo could even admire the cunning involved in the planning and execution of the scheme in the abstract. A patient hunter, he recognized the signs of another with such traits. Know your prey’s ways and weaknesses, plan your attack-and take the prize with as little waste and fuss as possible. Impressive. Yes, he understood. But forgive? Quite a different matter. They were his Tribemates that she had used as a decoy. Ayami was their embarrassment, yes, another of Kouga’s errors. She had deserved her most timely end. But not at the cost of his people.
The Elders wanted it resolved quickly-but the new ruler of the Tribe took orders from no one now. Advice, yes. Always. They were ancient and wise, and had knowledge of matters he had not concerned himself with before. But in the end, if he led, he led them all. He would decide in his own time and act as he saw fit. It was not in him to follow any other course.
They also demanded the Gorashi be recovered. He had agreed, and put it rather far down on his personal list of things to attend to. They were stupid enough to hand it to Kouga-let them go hunt it. A cold trail, and not worth following when important matters concerned him. Karyuudo had no interest in toys, even revered ones. Give him a good, solid spear any day.
“That was Kouga’s pride and prick making his decisions at the end, I think,” Yari noted as his friend and leader sat musing.
“Hmp,” Karyuudo rose and frowned. His second knew this meant he’d made his decision.
“Orders?”
“We wait. Bring the pack here.” That meant he was deciding to tackle his pack problems first, then would see about the Inu. Because Bara unhappy meant he would be utterly miserable and Yari knew it.
“Fair enough,” Yari agreed mildly, laughter lurking at his leader’s predicament.
“Amused, packsecond of the Tribe?” Karyuudo asked, and had the fun of watching his loyal friend choke on that bit of news. He snorted softly as he went to find something to eat. Only fair Yari had a squirm as well. He had a feeling it would be the last entertainment he would enjoy for some time.
***
“You idiot!! We don’t belong here, you know it, but you just couldn’t let it pass! Moron! I ought to have mated to anyone else, even a low wolf has more sense! Now we’re stuck, and can’t even live in our own home! Fool! I knew I should have accompanied you, that baka Yari fails me again, not keeping you from trouble! Now look what you’ve done! You could’ve been killed! Then where would I be?” a tall, radiant female snapped, glaring at him days later. Lady Bara, lead female of the pack-and now Lady of the Tribe.
Her long brown hair flowed loose under her fur headband, and honey colored eyes were hard as they bored into her mate, clawed hands on her brown fur draped hips. She was magnificent when she was angry, which was frequently. Tall, lithe, dangerous and prickly, his beloved mate Bara. Many wondered what he saw in her, waspish and loud, so different from the quiet and serene seeming pack leader. But he adored her, and had gone to such lengths to court and win her that they were still spoken of with pride in their pack.
“Granted,” Karyuudo agreed, sighing. It had been hours now...and still she yelled in what had once been Kouga’s private niche in the caverns, now theirs. If she allowed him to sleep in it with her anytime soon.
“Can you not even yell? Why do I bother?” she demanded.
“I for one am very proud of you, Father,” Hisui noted with a warm smile as her mother rounded on her.
“Do not encourage your father! Go finish unpacking, Hisui!” her mother yelled. A hand pointed as Bara glared at her mate.
“Thank you, dear one,” Karyuudo replied to her. The brown haired, green eyed female smiled as she withdrew.
Her mother raging was a nice bit of normalcy to the young wolf. Her remarkable bright green eyes, inherited from her paternal grandfather and the source of her name, flashed with good humor as she obediently went to do her bidding. A sweet, biddable girl, Hisui. Her father’s temperament, not her mother’s. Now Princess Hisui, and that troubled her. Poor Father, having to take the Tribe’s leadership. He didn’t want it.
If she’d known the price she would pay for her father’s giving into anger and disgust, that ended up catapulting their pack into preeminence...she would have yelled as well. Or fled.
***
But news spread. The Wolf Tribe had a new leader, a relative unknown who had quickly risen to power. Little was known of him, and instead of the weeks and months of reprieve expected, Yotogi discovered that they had reorganized much too quickly for his taste. Lord Karyuudo, then. Sitting in the tidy camp they had raised near the ruins of their packholding, he scowled even as he sent word to Sesshomaru that a new Wolf Lord was already in place.
Much too soon for Yotogi’s piece of mind.
Author’s notes-Ok, I admit it, I loved writing this chapter! Well, more typed it, Karyuudo and company basically showed up, camped out, and made themselves at home, breaking my writer’s block and promising much goodness. A lot of new characters are here, and they play quite a big role later on. The names all mean things as usual. Yari-Spear. Karyuudo-Hunter. Bara-Rose or Bramble. Hisui-Jade (for her green eyes). And Hitogoroshi means murderer, appropriate as he just offed a guy after he submitted. Thanks for Reading!-Namiyo
No, I do not own Inuyasha. I do, however, own Karyuudo, Yari, Bara, Hitogoroshi, and Hisui.
Recap: The Inu travel to Kaede’s village to keep an appointment on the New Moon. While Inuyasha and Miroku work on dealing with Shippo’s growing disobedience, Kagome learns not all of Kikyou has been reabsorbed. The Wolves and Panthers, now leaderless or much reduced, lick their wounds. What happens now? Read on!
This chapter takes place around the same time as the last one.
In the mountains, much was happening. What had been Kouga’s pack’s territory was under dispute. One of the finest hunting grounds in the Territories, the Tribal elders decided only the pack of the new Lord of the Tribe should take possession. To that end, they had summoned all of the remaining leaders as soon as news of the disaster with the Dokueki had reached them. On the stone ledges before the caves, more than one fought, seeking dominance as the rest watched and jostled for position. It was their way, the strongest rose to lead. A sensible system.
One pack leader held himself apart.
Karyuudo crouched on an outcrop, watching silently with his packsecond standing beside him. He led a smaller pack, up near the treeline in the northern end of their tribe’s lands, and was here only because the Elders had bidden all pack leaders come. Karyuudo was a clever, straightforward wolf-and had no desire to rule more. Let these lowslope and valley fools seek position as they pleased. Not him.
The short, whipcord lean wolf frowned as he watched another challenge taking place, sharp black eyes narrowed. He wore the armor and the black fur kilt of his kind, one clawed hand lightly gripping a spear as he studied the contenders. His short russet hair caught the breeze as the scents of musk and sweat were carried to his nose, acrid with a tinge of blood. Sharp features gave him a hard, predatory look at he glanced up at his taller, heavier built companion. Yari, his packbrother and second, was more muscular with long, black hair pulled into a braid behind the grey fur headband that matched his eyes. They hardly shifted, both holding themselves with easy grace as they looked on.
“How long do we stay? Long time already and I don’t like it here,” Yari asked. He was impatient to return home. They’d traveled three hard days to get here at top speed, the first such trip out of their isolated territory since Kouga had risen to lead long before-thanks to his shards. A sad day for the Tribe, really.
“Until it’s done,” Karyuudo answered, his voice, as always, very soft and measured.
“I think it will be soon then. Seems Hitogoroshi’s likely to lead us,” Yari commented, gripping his own spear tightly as a pack leader showed throat to the massive wolf in question. Hitogoroshi, who was actively seeking to press his position in these fights. He had nearly defeated Kouga when the former leader had lost his shards. Lost? No-gave them away. Ironically to the girl who ruined him from the gossip. This Kagome woman.
A shrug met this.
Hitogoroshi, though, he did something uncouth. When these types of fights were undertaken, they continued until one of them two died or showed throat, then the defeated were allowed to go on their way. Perhaps they went home to be challenged by their own packmates, perhaps not. Kouga had won by simply refusing to give in...but the pack leader the big wolf had beaten had submitted. He was getting up, a wrist broken, battered...and Hitogoroshi kicked his legs out from under him. The grey haired, grizzled wolf grabbed the smaller leader’s neck-and twisted savagely.
The limp form in his large hands was dropped, and he smiled as Karyuudo straightened slightly. Hitogoroshi had just earned the quiet wolf’s undivided attention. One did not kill after receiving submission. No worthy leader did so, it was wasteful. Doubly so when they were badly depleted by Kouga’s stupidity.
Karyuudo hated wastefulness.
“See my strength! Who dares challenge me!?” Hitogoroshi roared, and several...looked away. Not in shame, but to reject his challenge. Submitting without even token resistance to a fool out of fear, the stink of it rose from many of them. Not having the guts to stand up to a bully. Yari just winced. Oh, no...Karyuudo would not like this. Not a bit.
‘Damn it,’ Yari thought. Karyuudo decided, and stood up.
The quiet wolf rose and looked down levelly, meeting the much larger Hitogoroshi’s gaze. Yari accepted his pack leader’s spear when it was absently held out for him to take. Challenge. Hitogoroshi smirked. Karyuudo. Who hadn’t even bothered to challenge Kouga even after he lost his shards. Who led a small pack, and held a poor territory. Hardly impressive-but he would be entertaining.
He ignored the fact that Kouga had always kept a weather eye on the quiet pack leader...with good reason. Because Karyuudo held what he wished, no more-and no less. A dangerous creature who knew exactly what he wanted, obtained it, and maintained it. The former leader had just been happy all he wanted was his small pack, his isolated lands, his daughter Hisui and temperamental mate Bara.
“Well, well! Proud Karyuudo finally leaves his watchpost! Come then!” Hitogoroshi yelled, laughing. The smaller wolf barely came up to his chest and had a correspondingly shorter reach. He leapt down and approached, gaze level.
“Very well,” Karyuudo said-and Hitogoroshi lunged. Quick as a striking cat, the small wolf dodged under the intended blows, lashing out with his foot and taking the larger wolf in the throat. His own momentum helped drive the blow deep, nearly crushing the larynx. As Hitogoroshi stumbled, staggering as he purpled and tried to breathe, he was kicked in the back of the head and hands closed on him at the precise angle to break his neck.
“Show throat,” Karyuudo said quietly. Hands clutching his chest as he tried to get some air...Hitogoroshi obeyed and he was permitted to stagger away. At this, everyone looked down. Everyone. At this, the elders approached.
Oh, crap.
“Well done. You have great strength, and fine control,” one said mildly. Karyuudo wanted to kick himself as he looked around. No one was challenging? No one? Just one would do. Any. This is what he got for being annoyed, he reminded himself, stomach sinking. Granted, they needed a better leader than that proud idiot Kouga or that murderous incompetent-but not him! Surely not him?
Yari just shook his head as his pack leader...became the new Lord of the Tribe.
***
“Well done, my Lord,” Yari said later, when the others left and the rest of the pack was sent for to claim their new territory.
“Shut up,” Karyuudo told him, crouching again in his new favorite spot, the outcrop.
“Oh, I think not. Of all the stupid, idiotic things to do, you had to get angry and challenge that baka. Bara will flay you for this, you know, when she gets here,” Yari announced with a smirk. Karyuudo twitched in horror and Yari grinned wider. He could slaughter an entire village of humans or take control of the entire tribe without changing expression-but he cowered from the wrath of his bold, fiery mate.
“Likely,” the new Lord agreed with a small sigh. Bara hated the low slopes, he’d never hear the end of it. In truth, he didn’t care for them much either. The waterfall was nice though. Hisui liked them, that was something. Perhaps he could duck behind their cub until his Bara calmed down. A good plan, one he made note to follow.
“So-do we war with the Inu now? What’s next?” Yari inquired with a serious glint under a teasing smile. That was his job, after all, to make sure Karyuudo didn’t flee his new responsibilities, to help him as a packsecond should. Keep him thinking and on target.
“I don’t know,” Karyuudo answered.
He didn’t know Lord Sesshomaru save by reputation and rumor, his lands didn’t touch theirs, nor did they trade with the Inu. His Father had met the mighty Inutaisho, once. He had spoken of him as a great leader, and an honorable one. The son-no, sons...were unknown to him, and would have to be studied and their ways learned, also the now infamous Kagome woman as well.
Many had been lost, thanks to her cunning. She’d nearly broken them. One hanyou female, and she’d brought a Tribe to their knees with her powers and allies. How many swayed in her wake? She’d destroyed Kouga by toying with his lust, kept the new Second Lord of the Inu in her thrall, and maintained Priestly allies, was supposedly once a Priestess herself. Had wormed her way into the confidence of Lord Sesshomaru and was rumored to be his right hand and near equal in power.
Not someone he wished to tangle with if it could be avoided. Not now.
They couldn’t afford a war right now, not with their numbers so small, but they were owed recompense for the ambush. Something could be done, perhaps. He’d need to learn more before he came to a decision. From what news he’d gotten, Kouga was such an idiot he hadn’t grasped she wished another and had not simply offered to pact with the Inu out of common interest. But then, Karyuudo was mated and a sire of young, he understood such things better then a young unmated fool like Kouga. He could understand why she would do anything for her chosen.
Youkai lived for mates. Killed for mates. And died for them sometimes.
He could understand, yes. Karyuudo could even admire the cunning involved in the planning and execution of the scheme in the abstract. A patient hunter, he recognized the signs of another with such traits. Know your prey’s ways and weaknesses, plan your attack-and take the prize with as little waste and fuss as possible. Impressive. Yes, he understood. But forgive? Quite a different matter. They were his Tribemates that she had used as a decoy. Ayami was their embarrassment, yes, another of Kouga’s errors. She had deserved her most timely end. But not at the cost of his people.
The Elders wanted it resolved quickly-but the new ruler of the Tribe took orders from no one now. Advice, yes. Always. They were ancient and wise, and had knowledge of matters he had not concerned himself with before. But in the end, if he led, he led them all. He would decide in his own time and act as he saw fit. It was not in him to follow any other course.
They also demanded the Gorashi be recovered. He had agreed, and put it rather far down on his personal list of things to attend to. They were stupid enough to hand it to Kouga-let them go hunt it. A cold trail, and not worth following when important matters concerned him. Karyuudo had no interest in toys, even revered ones. Give him a good, solid spear any day.
“That was Kouga’s pride and prick making his decisions at the end, I think,” Yari noted as his friend and leader sat musing.
“Hmp,” Karyuudo rose and frowned. His second knew this meant he’d made his decision.
“Orders?”
“We wait. Bring the pack here.” That meant he was deciding to tackle his pack problems first, then would see about the Inu. Because Bara unhappy meant he would be utterly miserable and Yari knew it.
“Fair enough,” Yari agreed mildly, laughter lurking at his leader’s predicament.
“Amused, packsecond of the Tribe?” Karyuudo asked, and had the fun of watching his loyal friend choke on that bit of news. He snorted softly as he went to find something to eat. Only fair Yari had a squirm as well. He had a feeling it would be the last entertainment he would enjoy for some time.
***
“You idiot!! We don’t belong here, you know it, but you just couldn’t let it pass! Moron! I ought to have mated to anyone else, even a low wolf has more sense! Now we’re stuck, and can’t even live in our own home! Fool! I knew I should have accompanied you, that baka Yari fails me again, not keeping you from trouble! Now look what you’ve done! You could’ve been killed! Then where would I be?” a tall, radiant female snapped, glaring at him days later. Lady Bara, lead female of the pack-and now Lady of the Tribe.
Her long brown hair flowed loose under her fur headband, and honey colored eyes were hard as they bored into her mate, clawed hands on her brown fur draped hips. She was magnificent when she was angry, which was frequently. Tall, lithe, dangerous and prickly, his beloved mate Bara. Many wondered what he saw in her, waspish and loud, so different from the quiet and serene seeming pack leader. But he adored her, and had gone to such lengths to court and win her that they were still spoken of with pride in their pack.
“Granted,” Karyuudo agreed, sighing. It had been hours now...and still she yelled in what had once been Kouga’s private niche in the caverns, now theirs. If she allowed him to sleep in it with her anytime soon.
“Can you not even yell? Why do I bother?” she demanded.
“I for one am very proud of you, Father,” Hisui noted with a warm smile as her mother rounded on her.
“Do not encourage your father! Go finish unpacking, Hisui!” her mother yelled. A hand pointed as Bara glared at her mate.
“Thank you, dear one,” Karyuudo replied to her. The brown haired, green eyed female smiled as she withdrew.
Her mother raging was a nice bit of normalcy to the young wolf. Her remarkable bright green eyes, inherited from her paternal grandfather and the source of her name, flashed with good humor as she obediently went to do her bidding. A sweet, biddable girl, Hisui. Her father’s temperament, not her mother’s. Now Princess Hisui, and that troubled her. Poor Father, having to take the Tribe’s leadership. He didn’t want it.
If she’d known the price she would pay for her father’s giving into anger and disgust, that ended up catapulting their pack into preeminence...she would have yelled as well. Or fled.
***
But news spread. The Wolf Tribe had a new leader, a relative unknown who had quickly risen to power. Little was known of him, and instead of the weeks and months of reprieve expected, Yotogi discovered that they had reorganized much too quickly for his taste. Lord Karyuudo, then. Sitting in the tidy camp they had raised near the ruins of their packholding, he scowled even as he sent word to Sesshomaru that a new Wolf Lord was already in place.
Much too soon for Yotogi’s piece of mind.
Author’s notes-Ok, I admit it, I loved writing this chapter! Well, more typed it, Karyuudo and company basically showed up, camped out, and made themselves at home, breaking my writer’s block and promising much goodness. A lot of new characters are here, and they play quite a big role later on. The names all mean things as usual. Yari-Spear. Karyuudo-Hunter. Bara-Rose or Bramble. Hisui-Jade (for her green eyes). And Hitogoroshi means murderer, appropriate as he just offed a guy after he submitted. Thanks for Reading!-Namiyo