From the shadows, wolves began to emerge. One by one, they came—black, white, grey, all driven by the same burning desire to defend their home. They had heard Hoshiyo's earlier words and felt her emotional strength, and now, they were ready to fight beside her.
Hoshiyo watched the wolves gather in large numbers and snapped, "Go back to the village and protect your families. Do not interfere with my fight."
The Shogun sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "Listen to your leader, little pups. Mommy and Daddy need some alone time."
The wolves snarled, baring their teeth at the Shogun's taunts. A large red wolf, a deep scar etched across his left eye, growled, "When you first came to our shores, you tried to bind us with your samurai laws, enforcing your Shogunate's bullying ways on our land. All we want is peace. Why is that so hard to understand?"
The Shogun's eyes gleamed coldly as he replied, "We're doing what's best for your island. We must keep the white demons at bay to protect our way of life. How is that any different from what your leader is doing?"
The red wolf stepped forward, his paws sinking into the snow. "We welcome anyone whose heart isn't consumed by darkness. But we would never march into your land like barbarians, forcing our ways upon you."
"Interesting," the Shogun mused, lifting his arms to the falling snowflakes. "I came here long ago, hoping my family could cleanse these unholy lands and make you pure again. But now, I see you're too dangerous. Like rabid dogs, you must be put down to protect the mainland."
"Don't waste your breath trying to reason with him," Hoshiyo snapped. "The villagers need your protection. Go to them."
The red wolf's jaw tightened, and with a soft, obedient nod, he replied, "As you wish." The wolves turned their backs on the Shogun, their heads held high, ignoring his mockery as they made their way toward the village.
But the forest, which seemed so still, betrayed them. From above, Shogunate warriors dropped from the treetops, ambushing the wolves before they could get far. The snow muffled the sounds of their descent, and one by one, wolves fell in the ensuing struggle. Those who survived fought tooth and claw, retreating toward the village desperately for safety.
Hoshiyo's heart raced, her eyes darting toward the surrounding trees. The thick smoke and swirling snow made it almost impossible to see, but she knew—another ambush could be lurking, ready to strike.
The Shogun's laughter sounded sinister and loud, sending birds scattering from the treetops. He reveled in the chaos as if the destruction of one village would satisfy his thirst for conquest.
Hoshiyo's heart pounded with rage. She lowered her body into a fighting stance, her black fur bristling in the icy air, paws planted firmly in the snow. She was ready—this was no longer just her fight. It was the fight for her people, her land, and the future of everything she held dear.
Smoke from the village fires billowed into the forest, casting an ominous haze over the snowy ground. Around her, the cries of wolves and the clash of metal echoed as her kin fought desperately against the advancing Shogunate forces.
The Shogun stepped forward, his katana gleaming in the dim light, reflecting the chaos surrounding them. His face was cold and confident as if he had already won. "You fight for a dying past," he spat, gripping his sword with both hands. "I am the future."
Hoshiyo growled, her fangs bared, and lunged at him, her powerful body slicing through the snow like an arrow. She argued, "The future you seek will not bring upon world peace and would endanger more than human life as you know it."
The Shogun met her charge with swift precision, his blade flashing as he deflected her claws with a metallic clang. Their battle was fierce, each blow exchanged with the intensity of a war between two forces of nature. The Shogun's katana moved like a snake, striking with deadly accuracy, while Hoshiyo's teeth and claws tore at his flesh ferociously.
While their blood stained the snow between them, the Shogun's sword grazed her flank, but Hoshiyo retaliated with a savage bite, tearing at the sleeve of his armor. The two circled one another; snow kicked up beneath their feet as they both sought an opening. The fires from the village crept closer, filling the air with heat and smoke, but neither warrior faltered.
Then, in a swift, brutal move, the Shogun slashed across Hoshiyo's torso, cutting deep. She yelped in pain, her body staggering as blood dripped onto the snow. Seizing the moment, the Shogun grabbed her by the nape of her neck, lifting her off the ground. Hoshiyo howled in agony, her body trembling under his iron grip.
"You are nothing but a relic, a beast that has no place in the future," he sneered, tightening his hold. "I will shape this land, and your kind will be forgotten."
Hoshiyo thrashed wildly, desperate to break free, her limbs flailing like a fish caught on a hook. But exhaustion soon overtook her, and her body went limp, her eyes rolling back as her long pink tongue lolled out of her muzzle. Just as the Shogun thought he had her, a radiant light enveloped her body, silencing her cries.
The Shogun's eyes widened in disbelief as Hoshiyo's wolf form shifted, her human figure emerging from the glow and slipping from his grasp. With swift precision, she reached for her katana, its blade gleaming as she unsheathed it from her hip.
"If you erase us, you erase this world from existence," Hoshiyo growled, her voice low and fierce, charged with a power that echoed through the forest.
The two warriors circled each other, their blades raised, and the tension thickened like the frozen air.
"It is too dangerous," The Shogun 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."
"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 the wake of the flames he created. The sails of the Shogunate ships filled with the cold winter wind and began disappearing beyond the horizon.
The rest of Hoshiyo's tale was no surprise to her sisters, though none of them had ever anticipated that the Shogun himself would come after the island, seeking to obliterate what they cherished most. Rei listened carefully, her earlier anger melting into understanding. It was impossible to remain furious under Hoshiyo's heartfelt confession.
Takeko stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Hoshiyo in a calming embrace. She whispered, "What you did was reckless, but I'm grateful for your courage. You stood against the Shogun when most of us wouldn't even harm a cicada."
Rei, still nursing her pride, sighed loudly. "That was one time. I was having an emotional day."
The room fell into a brief silence, heavy with shared understanding. Mokoto, rubbing her bandaged arms, broke the quiet. "If we were born on the mainland, we'd already be arranged in marriages."
Ceres, gently tracing the bandages around her abdomen, added, "And if we refused, we'd end up sold to brothels."
"We cannot allow such dishonor on our island," Rei declared with fiery conviction.
Hoshiyo nodded in agreement. "We'll meet soon to discuss our next steps. Too much has happened—my transformation, the Shogun's invasion. We need a plan, and soon."
"That's right," Rei whispered, sitting beside Hoshiyo's bed. "He held you by the nape of your neck, and you shifted back into human form. That means the transformations aren't entirely random."
"Her emotions triggered it," Takeko added thoughtfully. "We still have much to learn about ourselves and the island we're fighting for."
"Learning is like a journey," Kuzunoha said as she packed her supplies. "It takes time. Don't rush the process."
Hoshiyo, still troubled, sat up slightly and said, "Tomorrow, in the garden, we'll plan our next move. If we don't develop a strategy soon, our world will become chaotic."
She was deeply concerned about their future. The recent months of uncontrollable transformations from human to wolf were already a challenge, but with the Shogunate's arrival, the stakes had risen. They needed to strengthen their defenses or risk losing everything they held dear.
Kuzunoha intervened, her tone firm. "No. Tomorrow is too soon. Rokuko and the rest of you need more time to recover. These injuries could worsen if you push yourselves too quickly."
Hoshiyo sighed, conceding. "Fine," she muttered, her exhaustion finally overtaking her. She let her eyes close, the warmth of the fire and the comfort of her sisters' presence easing her into much-needed sleep.