It's been months since the sisters' first mission on Nishinoshima Island. The vibrant autumn leaves had long since given way to the icy grip of December 1708 as the landscape lay blanketed in snow. Each sister had been sent on separate missions during that time, scattering across the island to uncover the mysteries that plagued their world. Some sought answers to the unpredictable transformations that had begun affecting the wolves—random shifts between human and wolf form that left them powerless to control when or why they would change. Others, like Hoshiyo and Rei, focused on honing their human skills, studying medicine, and surviving in the forest.
It was a time of uncertainty. The once clear division between human and wolf blurred, disrupting the sisters and the island. They knew something was wrong, but the cause eluded them.
Hoshiyo and Rei were deep in the forest, studying herbs beneath the pale moonlight; the earth beneath their feet began to tremble. A distant rumble echoed through the trees, and suddenly, the island was under siege. Shogunate forces, arriving without warning, stormed ashore on massive ships that docked in the fishing village—the tranquil silence of the snowy night shattered as war swept across the island like a relentless tsunami.
The battle came swiftly, tearing through the island and pushing ever closer to the sisters' home. Snowflakes fell silently, but the battlefield was anything but quiet. The Shogunate forces clashed with the wolves, who fought fiercely to defend their sacred land. The forest echoed with the sound of steel against steel, the growls of wolves in their proper forms, and the cries of warriors fighting for their lives. Blood stained the snow crimson as the war raged on.
Hoshiyo, in her human form, was caught in the thick of the battle. Exhausted and battered, her body ached from countless wounds, her breaths ragged as the freezing air stung her lungs. Despite the pain, she pressed on, her katana gripped tightly in her trembling hands. She couldn't afford to fall—not when the island's fate rested on her shoulders.
The fight was relentless, and though Hoshiyo's body screamed for rest, her resolve never wavered. She stood firm, knowing that the future of her home, her sisters, and the very existence of the Kami depended on her will to continue. The island's fate was in the balance, and she could not—would not—give up.
Before she stood Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the Shogun himself, his imposing figure cloaked in black armor gleaming in the winter sun's pale light. His katana was sharp, his eyes cold as he squared off with Hoshiyo. The two warriors circled each other, their blades raised, and the tension thickened like the frozen air.
"It is too dangerous," Tsunayoshi growled, his voice carrying over the battlefield like thunder. "The monsters on this island must be eradicated. You and your kind are no different."
Hoshiyo's heart pounded, her mind racing. She knew she couldn't let him win. If he succeeded, the island and all the Kami would be lost. "Leave us alone," she begged, her voice hoarse but strong. "We're not your enemy. The Kami are here to protect us. They will not do the humans any harm."
The Shogun sneered, swinging his blade with deadly precision. "Your lies will not sway me! Monsters cannot be trusted, and neither can you! What if these creatures were to escape the island? What if an explorer comes across it? We cannot afford any casualties." His strikes were fierce, his movements swift, but Hoshiyo parried each blow with everything she had left, though her strength waned fast.
With a final, desperate surge of energy, Hoshiyo found an opening. She stepped inside his guard and delivered a decisive strike, knocking the Shogun off balance. He stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock as he fell to the ground, his katana slipping from his grasp. Before he could recover, Hoshiyo stood over him, her blade suspended at his throat.
Tsunayoshi's breath hitched, his body frozen beneath the sharp edge of her katana. His eyes glinted with rage and fear as he realized he was at her mercy.
"I'll let you live," Hoshiyo said, her voice steady despite the exhaustion weighing on her. "But only if you make a promise. You will never return to this island again and leave the Kami and its people in peace. You are the Shogun, so you have the power to have the humans stay clear from the island, and I will ensure that no Kami or Yokai from here escape without my permission."
The Shogun clenched his jaw, hatred burning in his gaze, but he could see no other way out. After a long, tense moment, he clenched his teeth and nodded. "I will not return to this cursed island."
Satisfied, Hoshiyo stepped back, lowering her blade. She watched as Tokugawa Tsunayoshi slowly rose to his feet, defeated but alive. Without another word, he turned and retreated toward the massive ships anchored offshore, his forces withdrawing in his wake. The sails of the Shogunate ships filled with the cold winter wind and began disappearing beyond the horizon.
As the battlefield quieted, Hoshiyo stood alone in the snow, her breath heavy, her body aching. But the battle was over. The island was safe, at least for now.
The battlefield was silent now, save for the howling wind that whipped through the blood-soaked snow. Hoshiyo knelt in the heart of the frozen forest, gasping for air, her body trembling with exhaustion. Her katana slipped from her numb fingers, sinking into the snow as she dropped to her knees. The adrenaline that had carried her through the battle was gone, leaving her weak and shivering, her breaths coming in shallow, uneven bursts.
"It's over. We won," Hoshiyo whispered.
Hoshiyo's vision blurred as tears welled in her eyes, the weight of her victory crashing down on her. She could feel the cold seeping into her bones, her body refusing to move any longer. Just as she thought she might pass out entirely, she heard footsteps approaching.
All eight of her sisters arrived, their faces pale with concern and battle wounds that nearly claimed their lives. Rei was the first to reach her, followed closely by Takeko. "Hoshiyo!" Rei cried, her voice filled with panic. She knelt beside her sister, wrapping her arms around her. "We need to get her back to the house now," Rei said urgently, her breath misting in the frigid air.
Takeko nodded, her expression grim. "She's freezing, and those wounds…"
Rei and Takeko lifted Hoshiyo, their steps quick but careful as they carried her through the winter forest. Around them lay the bodies of wolves—those who had fought bravely to defend the island, now lying still in the snow. Hoshiyo, barely conscious, opened her eyes long enough to see the carnage around her. The sight broke her heart. Tears of regret streamed down her cheeks, mixing with the dirt and blood on her face.
"I should've done more," she whispered hoarsely, her voice barely audible over the wind. "I couldn't save them…"
"Shh," Rei murmured, her voice soothing but firm. "Don't speak, Hoshiyo. We'll take care of you. You did everything you could."
Hoshiyo didn't respond, her mind swirling with guilt and grief as the image of the fallen wolves burned into her memory. She felt her body weakening, her eyelids growing heavier with every step. The forest blurred around her, the cold biting into her skin as darkness crept in at the edges of her vision.
By the time they reached the house, Hoshiyo had lost consciousness. Rei and Takeko hurried her inside, laying her gently on the bed in the infirmary.
Kuzunoha hurried out of her office, moving swiftly but with the precision of an experienced healer. In her hand, she carried a syringe filled with a gentle sedative, which she administered to calm Hoshiyo. Her voice was calm but urgent. "Is everyone else alright? What happened out there?"
"We're fine, but others are hurt as well," Rei answered, her voice tense. "The Shogun came to avenge his family."
Kuzunoha's eyes hardened with determination. "I'll tend to the others. Focus on stabilizing her while I handle the rest."
"Be careful out there," Rei cautioned as Kuzunoha rushed off.
Rei wasted no time, swiftly tying a rubber tourniquet around Hoshiyo's arm before expertly inserting the needle for an IV. Once the line was in, she removed the tourniquet and administered sodium chloride to ensure a smooth medication flow.
Takeko sat down beside Hoshiyo, gently holding her hand. Her voice was quiet, filled with concern. "What exactly happened out there?"
Rei glanced up, her expression grim as she adjusted the IV. "Only Hoshiyo can answer that. She went off on her own to protect us."
"When will she wake up?" Takeko asked, her eyes scanning Hoshiyo's pale face.
"I don't know," Rei replied softly, focusing on cleaning the deep gashes across her sister's body. Her heart raced, but her hands remained steady as she picked up the dissolvable sutures and curved needle. Blood stained her gloves as she worked quickly, stitching Hoshiyo's wounds carefully.
Rei stepped back with the sutures in place, wiping the sweat from her brow. Slowly, she eased off the sedative, waiting for Hoshiyo to wake up.
An hour she had barely passed when Hoshiyo's eyes fluttered open in the dim light of the infirmary. Her entire body throbbed with sharp, stabbing pain, each wound sending waves of agony through her. The sterile scent of rubbing alcohol filled her senses, a harsh reminder of the battle she had barely survived.
As her thoughts drifted back to the chaos before the fight, tears welled up and spilled down her cheeks. Through blurred vision, she caught sight of Rei sitting beside the bed with her head bowed in exhaustion.
Hoshiyo tried to speak, but the pain made it difficult. Her voice came out as a broken whisper. "Rei… I'm so sorry…"
Rei lifted her head, eyes widening with relief. "Hoshiyo," she breathed, gently placing her hand on her sister's forehead. "What happened out there? What did you do?"
Still groggy, Takeko shot up from her seat beside the bed, rushing to Hoshiyo's side. "We've been worried sick about you!" she yelled out, her voice a mixture of concern and frustration.
Hoshiyo's voice trembled as she asked weakly, "Where are the others?"
Before anyone could answer, the infirmary doors burst open loudly. Rokuko and Kuzunoha hurried inside, carrying Utaku between them. The sight of Utaku, blood pouring from a deep wound in her shoulder, sent a chill through the room. The idea that her powerful Gunbai had been unable to fend off an attack from a group of swordsmen was unthinkable.
Takeko stepped aside as they carefully laid Utaku on the bed beside Hoshiyo. Meanwhile, other sisters with less severe injuries were seated, waiting for Kuzunoha's attention as she tirelessly moved between them, administering medicine and stitching wounds.
Rei's gaze remained on Utaku. "How did she end up with such a deep gash?" she asked, her tone filled with concern.
Rokuko, seated beside Utaku, shook her head. "We chased the Shogunate forces all the way to the pier, but as we pushed them back, some of them retaliated. It caught us off guard."
"That must have been one hell of a surprise attack for her to get hurt like that," Rei muttered.
Takeko, arms crossed and frowning, stared at Hoshiyo. "But none of this explains how all of this started in the first place. Hoshiyo, what's going on?"
Hoshiyo winced at the pain with every movement, her voice barely above a whisper. "I went back to the village... alone... and located the young wolf who could potentially be selling witch-hazel for our arsenal. I thought a quick trip wouldn't hurt, especially since there hadn't been any sign of danger around that area lately." She paused, her gaze distant, reliving the moment. "But when I spoke to her, she admitted the sailors had not returned with such a powerful medicinal herb before. However, she admitted to witnessing something—Shogunate forces docking at the pier, bringing with them a chest of witch hazel... among other medicine from the western lands."
Her voice faltered as her eyes widened, a familiar dread creeping over her. "Hearing those words again... the Shogunate are back. And if they've returned, I fear they've come for blood."