The following day, Hoshiyo and Rei were startled awake by the heavy thud of giant catfish flopping near their heads. The smell of fresh fish filled the cavern, and their instincts took over before either could fully open their eyes. Both wolves tore into the fish with ravenous hunger, devouring the meal fiercely as if they hadn't eaten in days.
Kuzunoha, still in her white fox form, watched them with a quiet smile. "Eat up. You'll need all the strength you can get. We have one last obstacle before reaching the village," she said, calm but serious.
Hoshiyo, licking her lips clean, looked up. "What now?" She chose to stay quiet about Baku's sudden appearance last night. She refused to stur back up any bad memories within the pack.
Kuzunoha's eyes gleamed as she replied, "The Nobiagari Bamboo Forest. It's home to the Nobiagari—shape-changing Yokai that can stretch their bodies to become impossibly tall. When they aren't stretching, they're small, shadowy shapes that blend into the ground, barely noticeable among the bamboo. Their trick is disarming—they grow taller than their victims can see, forcing them to look up and expose their throats. That's when they strike."
Rei paused, her hunger momentarily forgotten as a chill ran down her spine. "How do we fight them?"
Kuzunoha's gaze softened as she explained, "Nobiagari aren't invincible, but they are cunning. You can't just rely on your physical strength. You'll need to stay grounded and focused. If you let your fear control you and raise your head to look up, you give them the advantage. Use your instincts, trust each other, and remember what I've taught you. This will test your mental strength as much as your physical."
Hoshiyo stretched, shaking off the lingering grogginess from her deep sleep, and nodded. "We're ready."
More determined than ever after the previous day's events, Rei stood tall and flicked her tail in resolve. "We'll make it through. Together."
Kuzunoha's eyes twinkled with pride as she led them out of the cavern and into the misty morning. The swamp still glowed with the remnants of moonlight, but as they journeyed more profoundly into the forest, the bamboo groves loomed ahead, their long stalks swaying in the wind like watchful sentinels.
"The Nobiagari will test you," Kuzunoha said, her voice carrying through the silence. "But you've come far. And you will make it through this as well."
A dark gravel path unfolded before them on the outskirts of the Moon Phase Swamp. With their medical supplies strapped securely to their backs, both sisters walked in silence, carrying the tools of their fox healer mentor for training. Hoshiyo, relieved to have finally escaped the oppressive fog, lifted her head to feel the cool breeze brush against the whiskers of her muzzle. She took a deep breath, savoring the fresh air.
"Freedom at last," she sighed, stepping forward with a lightness in her step.
Rei nodded, though her expression was more guarded. "I agree, but something tells me the next phase of our journey won't be easy."
Hoshiyo glanced at her sister, her ears twitching with amusement. "That may be true, but I have a feeling luck will be on our side, too." A wide smile spread across her face as she trotted ahead, buoyant in her mood.
Her lightheartedness was contagious, and with a glimmer of optimism, the sisters continued down the pebbled path, their steps leading them toward the towering rows of bamboo marking the entrance to the Nobiagari Bamboo Forest.
The air grew heavier, thick with damp earth and shadows. The bamboo stalks towered above them, their slender forms creaking in the wind like haunting whispers. Kuzunoha rushed ahead of the two to keep a closer eye on the fading Yokai. Hoshiyo and Rei followed close behind in their wolf forms, the medical bags strapped tightly to their sides thanks to Kuzunoha and her human knot-tying skills.
"Keep your heads low," Kuzunoha warned, her voice calm but firm. "The Nobiagari are shape-shifters, and they attack from above. They stretch taller than the trees, and if you look up—" She paused, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at the dark shapes shifting overhead. "—they will slit your throat before you have time to react."
The sisters nodded and fixed their eyes on the ground as they moved through the forest. The bamboo groves seemed to stretch endlessly, the mist swirling at their feet as though alive. It was unnervingly quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves or the snap of a distant branch.
Suddenly, a tall and menacing figure loomed out of the fog. A Nobiagari shot up from the ground, increasing until it towered over them. Another followed, and then another, surrounding them with shadowy forms that seemed to blend with the bamboo itself.
Hoshiyo widened her stance, her legs tense and ready for action. Her voice sharpened as she yelled, "The shadows are moving beneath us—closing in fast. We're almost surrounded!"
Rei, panic rising in her throat, stood beside her sister and their sensei, her tail instinctively tucked between her legs. "What do we do?" she cried, her heart pounding wildly. The eerie silence of the forest, broken only by the rustling leaves drifting down from the trees, made the tension unbearable.
"For starters, don't look up at them," Hoshiyo commanded, her eyes scanning the shifting shadows. "If one starts growing fast, it's coming for you. Dodge like your life depends on it because it does."
The shadows continued to multiply, more materializing from the air, some drawing uncomfortably close. The bamboo around them shifted unnaturally, swaying as though alive, and soon the three were surrounded. Hoshiyo bared her teeth and growled fiercely, trying to intimidate the yokai, but the creatures remained unfazed by her display of aggression.
"Run!" Kuzunoha barked, and they bolted forward, dodging the attacks of the Nobiagari as their long limbs shot down like spears from above.
The sisters ran as fast as they could, but the Nobiagari gave chase, their elongated arms lashing through the air. One of them lunged at Rei, its razor-sharp claws slicing through the mist. She barely dodged in time, but the force of the attack knocked her to the side.
As Hoshiyo ran forward, she looked back and shouted, "Rei!" Her heart sank when she saw her sister lying on her side, dust and stone still settling around her. Though Rei hadn't taken a direct hit, the force of the debris had knocked her down hard.
Kuzunoha turned around as she ran, revealing her sharp teeth. Mud and leaves clung to her white fur as she darted toward Rei, zig-zagging effortlessly to avoid the incoming attacks. Her movements were fluid, almost practiced, like someone who had faced danger countless times before. To Kuzunoha, no one was more important than her pupil's safety, and she would never leave her behind.
Hoshiyo skidded to a stop, momentarily frozen by the sight. Kuzunoha's battle prowess was astounding, far beyond anything she had imagined. She had always known her sensei to be a skilled healer, but this... this was something else. A surge of admiration and longing filled her—she wanted to learn more, to be as powerful and intuitive as Kuzunoha.
Kuzunoha wasted no time. She charged toward the towering Nobiagari, her fangs bared, slashing at its legs with sharp claws.
Hoshiyo smirked and whispered, "I am not going to stand here and let you have all the fun." She attacked from the opposite side, tearing at the creature's feet with all her might. But no matter how hard they fought, the Nobiagari kept stretching higher and higher, towering over them like dark giants.
As the battle raged on, it became clear they were losing ground. The Nobiagari's endless height made them nearly impossible to defeat.
Hoshiyo's heart raced—desperation clawing at her. She ran to Rei, attempting to pick her up with her muzzle, and rolled Rei onto her back. "Kuzunoha, we can't win. There are too many of them. We have to retreat!"
"No," Kuzunoha snapped, her voice firm.
"What?" Hoshiyo barked, her frustration boiling over. "You might be the sensei, but I'm the leader of this pack! We have to leave, or we'll all die here. I can't carry both of you out of this forest while dodging Nobiagari!"
"We're warriors, Hoshiyo," Kuzunoha replied, still expertly weaving between the towering shadows above. "If we die here, then so be it."
"Dying here would be pointless!" Hoshiyo shot back. "Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?"
Lying on Hoshiyo's back, Rei groaned, slowly coming to. As her eyes adjusted to the light filtering through the bamboo canopy, she slid off Hoshiyo's back and stood on her shaky legs. "Don't blame her," Rei murmured. "She has the instincts of a mother… willing to do anything to protect us."
"But why?" Hoshiyo whispered, bewildered. "Why risk your life for another when you could die to protect an entire country?"
Rei limped beside her, watching Kuzunoha's fierce battle with the Nobiagari. "If something happened to us, she couldn't live with herself. She'd rather die in a blaze of glory with us than return alone, knowing she didn't do everything in her power to save us."
"A warrior's death..." Hoshiyo muttered, feeling the weight of her sister's words. "As a leader, I must uphold that same honor."
Determination surged through Hoshiyo, and she threw back her head, unleashing a mighty howl that echoed through the forest, a declaration that she was ready to fight back. Her heart was in the right place, but she could sense that Rei was still uncertain.
Rei's eyes suddenly sharpened, focusing on something in the distance. "What's that?" she asked, her voice low and tense.
"What?" Hoshiyo asked, narrowing her eyes as she tried to follow Rei's gaze.
"There, in the clearing." Rei pointed with her paw through the dense bamboo. "Someone's standing there."
Hoshiyo squinted, her eyes finally landing on a familiar four-legged figure glowing faintly at the forest's edge. "It can't be..." she whispered.
A low, rumbling sound echoed through the forest, and Baku, the holy beast, emerged from the shadows. His massive form glowed with ethereal light, and the Nobiagari hesitated at his presence, their towering forms shrinking slightly in fear.
"Baku!" Hoshiyo shouted. "He's here to help us!"
"Help us?" Rei snapped. "He tried to kill us the last time we saw him!"
"No," Hoshiyo replied softly, shaking her head as the memory of Baku's kindness resurfaced. "Baku used his powers to help me sleep after a terrible nightmare last night. He took away all my pain and calmed my heart. He wasn't trying to harm us, Rei. He was defending himself. He probably thought we were there to destroy his home until he realized we weren't."
Rei narrowed her eyes. "So you're saying he came to the cavern, and you didn't bother to tell us?"
Hoshiyo rolled her eyes, frustration bubbling up. "I didn't tell you because I knew exactly how you'd react! Either way, I'd be standing here getting yelled at."
Rei faltered, her words failing her as she realized Hoshiyo was right. She was upset, but her reaction would've been the same no matter how it had been handled. With a heavy sigh, she sat silently, accepting that her argument had no ground.
Hoshiyo stepped closer, her voice a gentle whisper. "You have to trust me, Rei. He's on our side now."
"Fine," Rei replied.
Baku charged forward, his body glowing brighter with each step. The Nobiagari recoiled, their shadowy figures shrinking back as Baku let out a mighty roar. With one swift motion, Baku lunged at the nearest Nobiagari, his massive jaws snapping down on its neck. The creature released a screech and dissolved into mist, leaving only a faint echo behind.
With Baku's aid, the tide of the battle turned. Kuzunoha, Rei, and Hoshiyo fought at his side, striking down the remaining Nobiagari as they retreated into the bamboo forest. Baku stood tall, forcing the last shadowy figures to flee as he created a mythical fog surrounding them. The mist left the Nobiagari unable to fight blind from above the fog, so a faded retreat was the most reasonable decision.
The forest fell silent again, the towering bamboo swaying gently in the breeze. Hoshiyo panted heavily, her body aching from the fight, but relief flooded her.
"Thank you," she whispered, looking up at Baku with gratitude.
Kuzunoha nodded, her fox form shimmering in the sunlight as she gazed at Baku. "We owe you our lives."
Rei, still skeptical, rolled her eyes. "Why did you help us?"
Baku exhaled slowly, a puff of smoke curling from his long snout. The smoke formed rings in the air, each playing back scenes from the last twenty-four hours. After fleeing their earlier fight, the first showed him tending to his wounds in the swamp. Then came images of him stalking the pack from a distance, trying to understand who had entered his territory. One ring revealed him devouring Hoshiyo's bad dreams, while others showed him watching over the group as they navigated the swamp and bamboo forest. Realizing they weren't a threat, he had decided to protect them.
Hoshiyo nodded, her gaze softening. "We understand now."
Rei hesitated, her pride still stung from his earlier attack. Yet, deep down, she knew her anger was less about the fight and more about her bruised ego. Stepping forward, she bowed slightly and said, "I had trouble trusting you. Forgive me, and thank you for saving us."
Baku, silent and dignified, dipped his head in acknowledgment before turning and vanishing into the mist.
As the moon ascended into the sky, casting its pale glow over the pack, they walked opposite Baku, though Hoshiyo couldn't help but feel he might still be watching them from the shadows. He had unexpectedly liked her small group, and part of her hoped their paths would cross again under different circumstances. The silence stretched between them as they watched the sky shift from a pale blue to the warm hues of sunset. The village was only a few miles away, but it was time to rest.
Hoshiyo glanced up at the emerging stars and asked softly, "Do you think we'll see him again?"
Kuzunoha smirked, her eyes glinting in the twilight as they followed the long dirt path. "I hope so..."
Rei, unusually quiet, trailed behind. Her head swam with dizziness, and her vision began to blur. Struggling to keep pace, she whimpered, "I need to stop... just for a minute."
Hoshiyo turned back, concern flickering in her eyes. "Are you sure? We're almost there."
But Rei's strength failed her. With a faint whisper, "I just need to sleep for a while," she collapsed onto the gravel, her blood slowly staining the ground.
"Rei, stay with me!" Hoshiyo cried, rushing to her side. Kuzunoha was already at work, her movements swift and precise, examining the wound. A sharp rock had punctured Rei's side, and blood flowed freely. Kuzunoha's hands moved expertly, cleaning the wound to assess the damage.
"Don't worry, Rei," Kuzunoha murmured as she pulled antibiotics and stitches from her medical bag. "We've got you." "She's stable for now. We must find shelter and start fresh tomorrow," Kuzunoha said.
"Right," Hoshiyo replied. In the stillness of the night, Hoshiyo, in her black wolf form, gently lifted her injured sister onto her back. Rei's limp body draped over her, barely stirring as Hoshiyo moved cautiously through the dense undergrowth. The moonlight filtered through the trees, guiding her path as she sought shelter for the night. Her heart raced, though not from exhaustion—Rei's condition weighed heavily on her mind.
"Will she be okay?" Hoshiyo asked, her eyes scanning the darkening forest ahead, searching for a shelter protected on at least three sides.
Kuzunoha glanced at Rei, unconscious on Hoshiyo's back, and nodded. "I have no doubt she'll recover," she whispered, her voice steady.
"She's been through so much," Hoshiyo murmured, her heart heavy with concern. "I just feel so bad for her."
"We'll all be fine once we reach the village," Kuzunoha reassured, though her gaze remained focused on the path ahead. "Once the island is secure, the Yokai will calm down. They only attack because they're being provoked."
Hoshiyo tilted her head, confused. "Provoked by what?"
"That's a mystery we'll solve another day," Kuzunoha replied with a small sigh. "Right now, we need to focus on the village. They need us."
"Right," Hoshiyo whispered.
After what felt like an eternity of running, Hoshiyo finally spotted a den beneath the massive roots of an ancient tree. She quickened her pace, calling out, "Over there, I see an opening under the tree!"
"Lead the way," Kuzunoha replied, swiftly catching up.
The den appeared small initially, but it would suffice for one night. The underground chamber seemed secure, offering protection should anything go wrong during the night. Hoshiyo carefully entered, lowering Rei onto the soft earth with gentle care.
"Rest now, Rei. We'll reach the village tomorrow, I promise," Hoshiyo whispered, settling down beside her sister to keep her warm, offering whatever comfort she could in light of Rei's injuries. As she lay there, her thoughts wandered, filled with the uncertainty of what awaited them in the Moon Village. She feared they might encounter a terrible foe or face the aftermath of a bloody battle. Her heart sank, dreading the possibility of finding corpses.
Kuzunoha arrived moments later, slightly out of breath. "You have impressive stamina, my friend," she panted.
"Sorry, I should have waited," Hoshiyo said apologetically.
"No need. You did what you had to," Kuzunoha reassured her. "Now, let me examine her properly, now that we're safe."
Kuzunoha knelt beside Rei, her hands steady as she assessed the wounds. The bleeding had slowed, but it wasn't enough to guarantee her survival through the night without further aid. Determined, Kuzunoha set to work, her skill and focus as she tended to the wounds, fighting to keep Rei alive.
Kuzunoha cleaned the puncture wound with herbs from her pouch, applying a poultice to stop the bleeding before stitching it closed. Her fur was slick with sweat and dirt, but she worked tirelessly, her focus unshakable as she fought to save Rei.
Hoshiyo sat in tense silence, her ears twitching at every rustle from the forest outside. Each sound made her bristle, her senses heightened, and she was ready to react if danger approached. She couldn't afford to let her guard down.
When Kuzunoha finally finished, she sat back, her face etched with exhaustion. "She'll make it," she said. "She lost a lot of blood, so she'll feel weak for a day or two, but she'll recover."
"Thank you, Sensei," Hoshiyo whispered.
Kuzunoha nodded, a small smile touching her lips before curling up beside them. They settled into the small cavern beneath the tree, the cramped space offering more peace than expected. The three of them slept soundly despite their fatigue and the tight quarters.