By morning, soft beams of dawn filtered through the cracks in the roots above them, casting a gentle glow inside the den. Hoshiyo and Kuzunoha watched quietly, waiting for Rei to wake before continuing their journey. Hoshiyo stayed close to her sister, nuzzling her gently to keep her warm, though it pained her to see Rei suffering.
"Why do I feel like this is my fault?" Hoshiyo whispered. "I'm a terrible leader."
"You were born into a role you never asked for, leading an army no one can truly prepare for," Kuzunoha said softly. "No one expects perfection."
"I do," Hoshiyo murmured.
At that moment, Rei stirred, her eyes slowly fluttering open. She winced as she moved, but the color had returned to her face.
"I'm... okay," Rei muttered, her voice weak but steady.
Hoshiyo smiled in relief, nuzzling her gently. "We'll take it slow," she promised.
Despite her injury, Rei insisted, "We need to keep moving. The village is close, and I don't want to delay us another day."
Kuzunoha nodded in agreement. "Just take it easy. We'll get there."
Rei pushed herself to her feet, shaky but determined. With her sisters supporting her, they stepped out of the den and into the morning light. Slowly, they returned to the gravel path to take their precious time to the village.
The dense bamboo forest finally thinned, the air became lighter, and the tension that had followed them for miles seemed to lift with it. Kuzunoha led the way while Hoshiyo and Rei padded behind her. The mist that had clung to their fur began to fade, replaced by the warmth of a soft breeze and the faint sound of rustling leaves ahead.
"We're almost there," Kuzunoha said, her voice breaking the silence. "Just beyond this path lies the village."
The sisters exchanged glances, their hearts lightening at the thought of finally reaching their destination. The landscape changed. Tall, ancient trees flanked the path, their branches swaying gently as though welcoming the travelers.
Kuzunoha slowed her pace, her gaze thoughtful as she turned to speak. "There's a legend about this village, something that may explain its strange nature. At the heart of the village stands a tree—massive, towering over everything like a guardian. The islanders believe it appeared out of nowhere one night, without warning, without a single seed planted."
Hoshiyo's ears perked up, intrigued by the story. "A tree that just… appeared?"
Kuzunoha nodded. "Yes. It grew rapidly, faster than anything natural. The villagers believe it's not just any tree, but a Yokai in disguise, perhaps one that watches over the village, protecting it from harm."
"Do they know for certain?" Rei asked.
"No," Kuzunoha replied. "That's the mystery. They're unsure if the tree itself is the Yokai, or if a Yokai resides within the tree, using it as a vessel. Either way, it is treated with great reverence. The villagers leave offerings at its base, hoping to keep its favor. Some say they've heard whispers from the branches, while others swear the tree moves, shifting its branches and roots as if it's alive. But no one knows for sure what the tree truly is."
The path widened, revealing a clearing ahead. In the distance, the village silhouette could be seen, nestled within the valley of towering trees. The glow of distant lanterns flickered like fireflies in the growing twilight.
Kuzunoha paused, her eyes fixed ahead. "I hope to learn more when we reach the village. Whatever this tree is—Yokai or spirit—I feel we will need its strength in the days to come. Something ancient stirs on this island, and we must be prepared."
The sisters were silent, absorbing her words as they approached the village. The mysterious tree loomed in their minds as much as it would soon loom over their heads. What awaited them in the village remained uncertain, but they were one step closer to the answers they sought.
Kuzunoha, Rei, and Hoshiyo emerged from the dense forest before a makeshift torii gate. The gate, though humble, marked the entrance to the village they had been seeking. Its wooden frame was draped with vines, worn from time and weather, but it held an ancient energy that seemed to hum in the evening air.
Beyond the gate stretched an empty field bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. At its center stood a massive tree, its trunk wide enough to hold a small house and its branches spreading like protective arms. A river wound through the field, its clear waters reflecting the golden light surrounding the village.
Hoshiyo's eyes sparkled at the gorgeous open field standing before her. She raised her head as high as she could to stare at the tree and cheered, "That tree is taller than anything I've ever seen in the books Mother showed us."
Rei looked up and asked, "How many meters is it?"
A pack of local brown and tanned furred wolves appeared from the river bank. Their fur was matted, their eyes wary, yet their steps had a certain dignity. This pack had survived in the village, a handful of them, eyes sharp but not hostile. They stopped a few paces from Hoshiyo and her companions, studying the newcomers with curiosity and caution.
One of the elders approached them and replied, "The tree is six hundred and thirty-four meters tall.
"And, who might you be?" Hoshiyo asked. Her tall wolf form towered over the smaller brown and tan wolves before her.
The elder held his head high. His fur was a mix of grays and browns, and his deep amber eyes reflected the wisdom of many years. "Funny, I was going to ask the same question. Who are you, and why have you come to our village?"
"I am Hoshiyo, the Generation of the Stars, and The leader of The Generations. The Kami chose us to protect you and the island," Hoshiyo informed.
Rei dipped her head respectfully toward the pack, her moon phase markings barely visible in the dim light, and said, "My name is Rei, I am The Generation of The Moon. My sister and I have come to help Kuzunoha aid your pack."
The pack fell silent, their eyes fixated on Hoshiyo, who could feel the weight of their scrutiny. Though the wolves before them didn't appear overtly hostile.
The elder of the pack stepped forward, circling them. "The Generations," he said slowly as if testing the words on his tongue. "We have no quarrel with your kind, but we live by our own ways."
Kuzunoha, sensing the unease, inclined her head respectfully. "We do not intend to disrupt your lives. We're here only to offer aid. Like myself, Hoshiyo and Rei are healers, versed in both human and spirit medicine. We've heard that you might be in need."
A ripple of murmurs spread through the pack. The mention of healing stirred something in them. The elder exchanged looks with his companions before speaking again. "It's true. We've suffered... losses."
Hoshiyo stepped forward, her voice steady but warm. "We aren't here to impose. My sister, Rei, is highly skilled in healing, and Kuzunoha possesses knowledge far beyond what most could dream of. We only wish to help."
The elder wolf's eyes softened, though his stance remained firm. "Very well, but know this: not everyone will welcome you. We do not take easily to outsiders offering aid."
Kuzunoha dipped her head in understanding. "We only ask for the chance. I promise, you'll have no reason to regret it."
The elder wolf led Hoshiyo, Rei, and Kuzunoha deeper into the village, his worn paws padding on the packed earth as he guided them beneath the colossal 635-meter-tall tree towering above. Its gnarled roots, as thick as houses, crisscrossed over the land like the limbs of an ancient giant, while homes—small and modest—were built into the very base of the tree and around its roots. Some were nestled in its vast, hollowed-out sections, while others rested on platforms woven from the roots, suspended like treehouses above the village. The air was cool and fragrant, filled with the earthy scent of moss, damp wood, and freshwater from the river flowing gently beneath the tree's immense canopy.
The humble houses were made of wood, bundled straw, and tall grass. Their walls were lined with woven bamboo, and the roofs thatched thickly to prevent the rain. Hoshiyo marveled at the seamless integration of nature and home, with vines crawling up the walls and flowers sprouting from the edges of the roofs. Wolves crept between the houses, their eyes watchful but not unfriendly.
"Our village was reborn when the tree formed a year ago," the elder said, his voice low and measured. "We live with the tree, beneath it, on it—every part of this place exists in harmony with its roots. The river runs from its heart, providing water, and its roots protect us from the elements." He paused and looked up at the towering branches stretching endlessly toward the sky. "We lived in harmony until we were attacked."
"Attacked by whom?" Hoshiyo asked.
The elder turned to them, his amber eyes darkened with a mix of sorrow and frustration. "Black shadows with four legs and sharp teeth. Spirits twisted by anger and misfortune. They came in the night, breaching the heart of our village inside the tree. We fought them off, but many are wounded, and some still remain inside. They seek something… or someone."
Rei's brow furrowed, and she glanced toward the enormous tree trunk, where large openings led into its inner chambers. "What could they possibly be searching for?"
The elder nodded solemnly. "We don't know what these creatures want, but they've made their nests within the tree's hollow. The wounded are inside, hidden deep in the caverns underground where we hope the Yokai can't reach them."
Kuzunoha stepped forward, her posture resolute. "We'll do whatever we can. Take us to the wounded."
The elder wolf inclined his head gratefully and turned toward the entrance of the great tree. "This way," the elder said, his voice echoing softly in the vast hollow.
The air grew more relaxed and thick with dampness, and the scent of blood and earth mingled, a sad reminder of the battle that had taken place here.
The cavern opened into a vast expanse, where a small group of wounded wolves lay scattered among the rocks. These wolves weren't ordinary. Their fur shimmered with a strange translucence as if shadows clung to their bodies. Dark, almost spectral wolves had attacked them—their enemies, beasts that looked like living shadows.
Hoshiyo's heart sank at the sight. The wolves, some barely conscious, breathed heavily, their wounds deep and raw. She approached the nearest one, a brown wolf with streaks of silver in its fur, who whimpered in pain as he tried to move. She asked, "Are you alright, sir?"
The wolf struggled to make a sound, only managing weak mumbles as foamy saliva dripped from his mouth. He was barely clinging to life, his breath shallow, and the sight of him made Hoshiyo's heart sink. His condition was so dire that she couldn't even guess his age—he was just a shell of a once-strong being.
Rei whispered, her voice strained, "The pain has overwhelmed him. It's all he can feel. He can't think or speak... it's consuming him."
Kuzunoha knelt beside the wolf and shifted into her human form without hesitation. Her white fur and flowing fox tail faded, revealing her human features. She unwrapped her medical supplies with practiced precision, her hands steady as she cleaned the deep gashes marring the wolf's side.
"What can we do for him?" Hoshiyo asked, her voice tight and concerned.
Kuzunoha removed a syringe from her pouch, drawing a dose of white liquid from a small vial. She gently injected the fluid into the wolf's thigh, her expression sad. "There's nothing more we can do except keep him comfortable."
Rei sat beside the wolf, her eyes filled with sorrow as she watched his eyelids flutter and close. She whispered, "I'll stay with him until the end. He won't die alone. Go help the others."
Kuzunoha nodded, discarding the syringe in a hazardous waste pouch. She rose to her feet, grabbed her medical bag, and followed Hoshiyo. "We have to choose carefully who we help next. Some are more critical than others," she said, calm but urgent.
Hoshiyo nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility. "Right," she replied, scanning the cavern to assess the remaining wolves, knowing their survival now rested in her hands and Kuzunoha's skill.
A low growl came from one of the wolves further away, but it wasn't threatening—just a sound of frustration, of anger. Hoshiyo moved toward him, a large black and brown wolf with a wound down his chest. His eyes flickered open when she drew near, and he studied her features.
"Hey, my name is Hoshiyo. Her name is Kuzunoha, and she is a healer. We're here to help," Hoshiyo said softly, meeting his gaze. "We've heard of the attack. Dark wolves... like shadows?"
The wolf nodded weakly, his voice rough and filled with pain. "They came out of nowhere… from the night itself. We tried to fight them, but…" He closed his eyes as a shudder ran through his body. "We were overpowered. My name is Koto, and I am a mere Beta wolf who attempted to protect his pack. I failed."
Kuzunoha knelt beside him, carefully inspecting his injuries. "They look like they tried to tear you apart," she said gently.
Koto sighed, his tension easing slightly at her words. "I never thought anyone would come to save us. Our village isolated ourselves from the outside world to protect our way of life."
"I can see that," Hoshiyo replied. "The elders nearly refused our aid in your desperate time of need. But the past is history now, you're not alone anymore."
"Thank you," Koto whispered.
Kuzunoha worked swiftly, tending to the worst injuries. She applied poultices and bandages and even whispered ancient healing chants that seemed to calm the wolves' pain. The two spent forty-five minutes working on Koto's injuries, and soon, he will walk again.