#kougahime

             She stood above them in the rock formations, overlooking the two canines below. Ahmya stood across from her; Ichika to the West and Hibana to the South. Each held a basket, and when the drums started, InuYasha’s haroi flopped into a heap of fabric; bare feet moving across the cold stone to the center of the formation.  The mid-wife of the pack, a wizened old woman Yashitake-baba, was dressed in furs and bones that swished and tinkled as she wrapped a cloth around Kouga’s eyes. “I take from you, young prince -- your sight. Not that you will suffer without it, hm? Prepare your senses yorozoku, for you are about to be under siege.” 

Above them, Hibana scoffed and Ichika giggled softly, a tinkling of bells that ruined the severity of the moment, but no one was genuinely upset or even bothered to react. Sango smiled and Ahmya habitually rolled berries in her claws.  Golden eyes watched his female and their children above them for a solid beat, then took a breath and looked down to see his male. His Kouga -- armor removed and strong body on display with fur complimenting the tanned, broad expanse of skin the man was a vision... Or a trap, as Yashitake has advised, InuYasha couldn’t afford to be distracted during this particular GAME.

Yashitake-baba moved away from the Alpha, but her words carried as the drums took on a building crescendo. A few wolves howled; the old mothers words couldn’t be drowned even as snow began to fall. “A challenge of strength and speed -- a test of devotion and spirit. A display of love and heart.” Wrinkled hands lifted, stained with tattoos, scars and sun-spots; fur swished and shifted as she reached for the sky from the bottom of the rock formation. 

“A hunt for berries provided by your mate and children, they honor you Alpha and stand above you now; the heart of this pack. Do you trust your pack?” Her hands came down, and a little girl with a bumbling brown pup at her heels, stepped forward with a broken open skull, full of dark red juice from the berries. 

                                   “Yes.”

Old fingers dipped, clawed tipped smeared across Kouga’s chest, and the wolf inhaled sharply. Yashitake-baba croaked a chuckle, “I was there to take the afterbirth from your crown, and here I stand to take from you now, young prince -- your ability to scent. Not that you would suffer without it.” The drums became only slightly louder, and the wolves surrounding their Alpha and his mate, down below now came to fill in the gaps between Sango, Ahmya, Hibana and Ichika. Above them, ringed around the mouth of the rock formation, the wolves beheld the scene below, backdropped by the expanse of a cloudless sky.  InuYasha swallowed, his claws flexing against his palms as he waited -- heart in his throat. 

He’d been practicing, and known about this tradition months in advance -- had even taken to special lessons from Yashitake-baba. As if sensing his thoughts, the Old Mother turned to pin him with a knowing, milky brown stare. InuYasha dipped his chin, but his chest expanded and his shoulders nose. 

“Your mate stands before you, the wolf at your back and he comes to protect you; he is large and powerful. But can he protect you, this pack -- from an army of 300 for 3 days. Do you trust your mate?”

                                     “Yes.”

The drums became deafening; the little girl and her puppy moved back into the shadows within the rock formations belly. The Old Mother was stepping back to, and before it became too loud, she said, “I take from you, your ability to hear! You are in absolutely trust of your pack. Your family. You are in protection of your mate... THE BATTLE BEGINS!”

Chanting, howling and drums exploded into the air -- music and spirit rising from the East so loud it sounded like thunder and war. InuYasha’s ears snapped back and he opened his claws, stepping towards Kouga and into the ring of light from the mouth of the rocks above. He looked up, heart in his throat and seen Sango. Bright dark eyes were excited, but just as nervous as he was. A smile passed between them and with a roll of her Ichika’s eyes, the berries from all around began to fall. Raining down onto Kouga.

Or would have, had the hanyo not sprang into motion. His claws swept and sliced, spraying juice across the stone floor and jagged walls; he circled Kouga with as much grace as he could. A creature of the wild, he moved in arching springs, twisting lunges and rolling pivots. A blur of movement that almost seemed trance-like with paired with the drums -- the energy of the wolves around them.  They kicked up such a fuss InuYasha had to rely solely on his eyesight; his instincts.  Kouga, was forced to remained. To trust in InuYasha. 

A sacred rite.  A traditional display of love, strength, protection, devotion and trust. 

                        Not a single berry touched the Alpha’s skin.                         Not a single drip of juice that hadn’t been applied and dried before hand to catch discolored additions, could be seen by the time it was over, And when it was, InuYasha rose from a crouch as Kouga removed his blindfold. Heat billowed from his mouth in clouds as sweat steamed from his bare shoulders. Covered in berries, it was in his hair; in his mouth, under his claws and staining the soles of his feet. 

Their eyes met, as the blindfold hit the floor and InuYasha snickered as the entire Pack went up in roars, whoops of impressed accomplishment and celebration.