InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Crossing Paths ❯ Gaining your trust ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

 

Now a duo, Onekan and Crickett begin a new journey together, since they were forced from their homes. They were alone at that point, but now, they have accepted each other's companionship equally.

 

In the land Onekan knew of as home, she was used to caves and the mountain side protecting her and her clan from invaders and outsiders. Now traveling, she meets a much different breed of horse demon, sorry, Lecithinian. But not only does she meet one, they become traveling partners after she frees him from his captivity.

 

`I never thought I'd get to do so much,' she thought `and my journey has yet to begin.'

 

Walking silently for several hours, lost in their own thoughts and memories, Onekan's sensitive ears pick up the sound of a river not far from their current position. Crickett also heard the river and wordlessly, the both head towards it for a refreshing drink and maybe a quick soak to sooth tired muscles.

 

Closer than they expected, the river is wide with a slow current. Thick foliage on either side make it private and comforting. Worn paths alert the female demon of the group that a lot of other animals use the river for drinking as well, possibly crossing it here as well to reach the lush grass on the other side of the river. Crickett too, in the same fashion as others seeking refreshment, lowered his head and drank from the cool river.

 

“I'm going to bathe while we're here, no telling when I'll get another chance to again.” Onekan slipped behind bush that sat close to the bank. Crickett bowed his head in approval and stepped off to give her some privacy. He decided to look for his own part of the river that he could wade out into and swim for a bit.

 

It was a little deeper than he thought this river would be, but then again, it was wide. Crickett thought against swimming too far out, there's not telling what could be in the water that was dark but clean.

 

Onekan removed her quiver and bow, untied her sword from her hip and slipped out of her leather halter top and her pelt skirt. She threw them on top of the bush she used as a shield from spying eyes, in case there were any. As she went to enter the river's edge, she wrapped her tail around her waist as a second shield to cover her womanhood and draped her hair over her breasts to completely cover herself in an emerald robe. Her sensitive hearing picked up Crickett entering the water further down.

 

She entered the water and swam out a little till she couldn't reach the bottom, enjoying herself and the river's cool sanctuary. She found a piece of soap root and removed it from its dwelling it with her claw.

 

“My hair could use a good wash.” Careful not to let any water or soap into her ears, she pressed them against her head as good measure to ward it off as she dove under the surface to wet her whole head. While under, she swam closer to the embankment so she could reach the full length of her hair, and her tail while she was at it.

 

When she surfaced, she worked the piece of soap root in her hands till it frothed and bubbled. She put the white foam into her hair and continued to message it around her scalp then the base of her ears, followed by the full length of her dark tresses. She then washed her flowing tail detangling it with her claws as she found need. She dove under again to rinse. She surfaced again and went for a swim, rolling to her back and letting the sun warm her front.

 

“Crickett, from your travels, do you know where the nearest clan is? Maybe we could find help from them. Then I can bring Azriel and Sato back to live with us.”

 

`I do not know of a clan, as you speak of, but the nearest village is yet another day's travel. It is a human village and as I have seen, does not take kindly to strangers, and worse to demons. Since most humans are not pure souls, I slip by, being acknowledged as a horse by Nesthaniel. No man second-guessed him when he all but threw his wares at them as his penance.' Crickett recounted his past travels with the merchant and not once did he see another clan such as hers but then again, they mostly traveled to human villages on well used paths and not through the forest. Or the mountains that she once called home.

 

While she floated on her back, something brushed past her tail. She bolted upright in the water and looked into it's murky depths. She couldn't see anything with the water so dark. She felt it again, this time it pushed past her foot. Instinctively she pulled back. She called to Crickett but got no response. Fearing for her new friend's safety, she swam as fast as she could around the little bend in the river. She didn't see him. Then she saw what she feared. Watching the air surface in large amounts caused her breath to seize in her lungs.

 

“NO!” She screamed, finding her voice. She doubled her efforts swimming to where her friend was last and dove under the water searching for any sign that he was still there. She felt more than two water dwelling demons pass by her and realized they were giant carp demons. How ironic she thought, once hunted to be our food, now hunting us to be their food. She quickly pushed that out of her mind and questioned why they went after Crickett and not her. `Duh, he's four times bigger than me, why bother with a teaser when you can have the whole meal in one sitting?' She found what she was looking for deeper than she liked. Another carp passed her and she grabbed it by the fin and thrust her claws through it, instantly killing it. Another swam past her headed towards the cluster of demon carp all huddled around Crickett.

 

He was fending them off as best he could but he had only his teeth to protect him and with his size, he was slow and clumsy in the deep water. Onekan noticed that he was slowing even more with lack of oxygen. She knew he wouldn't last much longer if she didn't help him.

 

Using all her might and her speed she charged at the cluster of fish demons and sliced through them. For every two that she destroyed, five more appeared.

 

`At this rate, we'll both drown before I kill them.' Feeling herself struggling with her own lack of oxygen, she incorporated her feet as well, her fighting tactics loosing form and control as her body demanded she surface for air.

 

She punched through the heart of one of the largest carp demons and not to mention the ugliest. When she pulled her hand out of the carp's body, it was glowing a soft pink. Stunned, Onekan opened her hand to see a shard of glass embedding itself into the top of her hand.

 

`Wha?' She'd have to ask Crickett later. When she searched for him, he gave one last valiant effort to thwart the demons, but to no avail. He passed out from deprivation and sank to the bottom of the river, which didn't happen to be far since they were already so close.

 

Anger welled up in Onekan and she felt her hand grow hot, her claws grew longer and start to glow. With one felt swipe of her hand, the entire carp demon swarm stopped moving and split into five pieces each. She swam to Crickett's unconscious body and pulled him up by his head.

 

Surfacing she drug him to the side of the river pulling his head farther up and out of the water's path. She couldn't smell if he was still alive, her senses were dulled by her light headedness. Water seeped into her ears making her nearly deaf as the water sat on top her ear drums. Onekan pushed on Crickett's ribs hoping that it would push the water, if any, out of his lungs.

 

To prevent anymore carp demons from attacking them while they regained their senses, Onekan dragged Crickett's enormous body completely out of the water and into a shady part of the river's edge. She leaned against his long neck, feeling a faint pulse through his veins. With the sign he'd be alright, she gave into her own exhaustion and light headed state and closed her eyes. She didn't take into account that she hadn't eaten in two days; her hunger overpowered everything. And what better, another ironic twist. There were hundreds of dead carp in the water, thanks to her claws; she would eat really well now. She sat up and sighed heavily. Pulling herself to her feet, she headed off to find some firewood to cook her dinner. Things always tasted better roasted over an open flame.

 

Once she got her a good fire going, she headed back to the river to find the dead carp. By the time she returned, her fire would be perfect for cooking. When she was dry again from her second dip in the water, she went to retrieve her belongings and get dressed again.

 

Crickett awoke to the smells of a fire and fish cooking over it. Not much of a carnivore, the smell made him slightly nauseous, and horses can't throw up.

 

“Glad to see your awake now.” Onekan said. “How are you feeling now?” She turned the spit over to roast the other side of the fish on the rack.

 

`Better, thank you. I am very fortunate to have a traveling companion as caring and swift in water as yourself. If not I would have become fish bait. Thank you for helping me.' Crickett sat next to Onekan but upwind of the fire and her dinner.

 

“It was nothing more than what you would have done for me, I'm sure. But you are welcome. Would you care for some . . . I mean, do you eat meat?” Onekan asked while pulling a carp steak off the skewer and offering it to him.

 

He shook his head and snorted lightly. `No, thank you. I am strictly herbivore. I do believe I will go in search of good plant to eat myself. If I find any would you care for some, to add to your meal?' Crickett rolled his massive body to the side and threw his front legs out. He pushed with his hind quarters and set his frame up on all four legs.

 

 

He lumbered only a few yards away and went straight to munching on the lush grass and abundant vegetation that lined the river's edge. Ever vigilante to the slightest sounds surrounding him and Onekan. Keeping his ears and nose open to any demon looking for food or worse. He owed it to her, although he wouldn't say so, she had saved him and his code would not allow him to ignore that. In a sense, he was hers. Crickett would do anything she asked, no matter how hard or how trivial. It was the way things worked. Even after the debt would be returned, she saved him and could have very well left him to die under the river's surface and only she would have known. He would protect her and care for her as best to his ability and more than.

 

 

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Later that night, after they had their fill to eat and couldn't think of another piece of food passing their lips, Onekan and Crickett made ready their camp. It wasn't much, her pelt she brought used as a mat, the fire used to keep them warm and guard off unfriendly demons. Crickett only slept lying down for short periods of time and just as easily stood to sleep the rest of the time. Pushed by his need to fulfill his debt to her, Crickett allowed Onekan to use him as a pillow. He settled himself around her and she propped herself against his chest. No sooner did her eyes close, she was sound asleep. Crickett took pride in the notion she felt safe with him protecting her. He then rested his head on the soft dirt to shut his eyes.

 

Several hours later, Crickett heard a twig snap. His ears swung around forward, but he did not move until he needed to do so. Then there was another, this time closer to his left and still approaching. What ever it was coming towards them, was smart enough to stay down wind. Crickett could not smell any undesirable scents or anything to cause alarm. When the rustling in the woods became too close, Crickett pulled himself to his feet, waking Onekan. She sat up looking around. Crickett began walking towards the edge of the woods, ears flipping around trying to pick up any sound and decipher their meaning. He heard something snarl and then begin to charge. Crickett whipped to his right and in an instant put himself between Onekan and the centipede demon.

 

It tried to push past Crickett and charge for Onekan. Crickett, with his incredible speed, lunged at the demon and caught it with his enormous mouth. He turned and proceeded to kick the demon till it turned its attention to him. When it charged him, he reared up and stomped it into the ground. He crushed the centipede under his massive hooves.

 

Onekan stood at the ready but did not need to move. Crickett was defending her and protecting her. She saw when it made to go around him and he pulled it back with his teeth, then beat it to death under his front legs. She marveled at his speed and power. She was grateful that he was on her side and not against her. He may be big, but he's not dumb, he could protect and care as only a stallion could. She realized that she must be part of his `herd' if Lecithinians worked the same as normal horse demons.

 

Crickett returned to Onekan and bowed his head, she nuzzled his muzzle and thanked him.

 

`It was an honor. I trust you completely and I am sure you trust me. But we must leave, there may be others coming with the scent of blood in the air.' Onekan nodded and quickly doused the embers from their fire and grabbed up her gear. She came to Crickett when she was ready and started to head out when Crickett dropped his head in front of her and stopped her.

 

`If the centipede was after you because of the stronger power you have, and I have sensed it as well, it would do better if you were to ride upon my back. If danger approaches I can run faster than even you.'

 

Onekan looked at him with fear and joy. To ride on his back was something completely different and yet, something she actually thought about. She agreed with him entirely about the danger. She too felt the increase in her body, especially in her right hand. The hand the piece of glass, from the carp demon, embedded itself in. She looked at her hand and back to Crickett.

 

`Tell me on the way. I fear more are close.' Crickett went to bend his front legs to allow Onekan to mount him, but was surprised when she leapt up and landed softly on his back.

 

“Where should we go?” Crickett headed off in the direction of the village they talked about earlier that evening.

 

`To the village on the other side of this forest. It won't take as long if I ran. I'll walk if you prefer.'

 

“Are you sure they'll accept me? Or better, won't try to kill me because of what I am and how I look?” She started to get worried, but kept her real fears and hesitation silent. Crickett, able to feel her tense leg muscles around his back and smell her fear, nodded hoping to calm her.

 

“Well, what are we waiting for? It's almost dawn and the invigorating scent of rain is in the air. Let's go!” Onekan laughed and felt Crickett's muscles bunch under her preparing for the run. Before she dwelled long on the power he must posses in such a massive body, she was propelled forward, wind rushing past her fanning her hair out behind her. She ducked lower to his back avoiding tree branches that might attempt to dislodge her from her seat.

 

She stretched her arms along his graceful neck, feeling him coil back and then just as quickly, stretch himself out again. In that position, she realized it was an even smoother ride and she didn't have to fight the incredible force from the wind to sit. After several ground eating strides, Crickett was in another clearing. Onekan turned her head sideways and barely saw the trees blaze past on the lip of the forest. It almost felt like she was flying, she felt weightless. Onekan rested her head against the side of his neck trying to block the unending wind that was causing tears to slide down her cheeks. She was far from unhappy that moment. She would ask to ride again and feel the freedom only riding Crickett seemed to give her. They could outrun anything, she thought. With her head against his neck, she could hear him trapping more air in one breath than she could take in ten.

 

Adrenaline was pumping through her making her lightheaded, adding to the thrill of the ride. She wanted him to go faster. She asked him and her response was an astounding burst of speed. Trees and bushes were just blurs and meters behind before she even noticed them. They began blending into each other, looking more like an impassable wall. Crickett's strides were so smooth and long and fast, she wondered if he even touched the ground at all. Caught up in the excitement she forgot to ask him about the glass shard in her hand and the power it gave her. She would when they stopped in the village. For now, she wanted to revel in the moment and enjoy the ride.

 

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