#ch9.5

A flurry of gold feathers was there only warning when Aderyn tumbled out of the sky, unconscious. Kaori was the first out of the tree, followed closely by Shizuka and Kagome, “What the hell?”

                Shizuka snarled and lifted her palm, a small orb of purple kitsune-bi ignited, “Find Azuka!” The little ball dashed out into the torrents of the early mornings, continuous rain.

                “Oh no! Let me see, I’m a healer, let me see if she’s hurt!”

                Kagome knelt down beside Aderyn, quickly taking note of her physical appearances. She was pale and her face had a grey sheen that spoke oh exhaustion. “That presence, she has a faint residue of that presence from the other day.” As she spoke she lay her hands on the raven’s torso and let her reiki fill her chest, purging the taint from her.

                “She’s clean now.” The miko spoke quietly, drained from using her reiki.

                “We really need to exercise that reiki of yours, Kagome.” Shizuka said, placing a hand on the miko’s shoulder when she would have tipped over, “but good work. We’ll take it from here.” Kaori was already moving to haul the unconscious bird onto her back.

                “Well, I’ll go find us some more firewood, once you get Aderyn-san comfortable, one of you come get me, I’ll have gathered enough for two loads by then, hopefully.” Kagome said, slowly getting to her feet. Pushing wet hair from her face she smiled at Shizuka who helped her twin with the sleeping woman, into the hollow of the tree they had spent the night in.

                Kagome wandered around, gathering wood. “I wonder what Azuka-chan is doing. I wonder if I can find her from here.” She concentrated. ~Azuka-chan? Can you hear me?~ She shook her head.

~Geez, this is harder than I thought. I wonder where that crazy fox is.~

                ~You’re noisy.~ The sound of fire crackling filled her mind. ~What do you want?~

                ~Aderyn-chan has been hurt. The presence got to her and she fell out of the sky. Luckily the twins caught her.~

                Suddenly a bone chilling howl broke through the rain, traveling through each raindrop like a demonic phone call. Kagome clapped her hands over her ears before she realized she was hearing the same sound two different ways. The sound in reality was far off and distant, but in her head it could have come from right next to her. Her heart began to pound when the sound resounded in her chest and brought forth instincts that had no real purpose, for the moment, for the human. it made her want to protect, and it made her angry and restless when she couldn't find anything ‘to’ protect.

                Her eyes widened as she realized something... it was youkai instinct she was feeling, and it was enough to choke her on its intensity. She almost laughed, if the sensation wasn’t so painful.

                “People... think that demons don’t feel? Huh, they should.. feel this..” The girl almost doubled over from the desire to see Aderyn, Shizuka, Kaori and Azuka again. As a whole. Kagome dropped her bundle of sticks and ran back to the tree they had been sleeping in.

                Suddenly a returned howl, more powerful and it seemed to shake everything without anything moving. Making everyone pause, and poor Kagome almost fell out of the tree on her way up to the entrance when her focus slipped. Kaori looked down at just that moment and managed to catch her by the wrist.

                “Arigatou, Kao-chan.” Kagome whispered, her heart still in her throat from the near-fall. Even though it was only a few feet, it was  still a painful landing.