As it turned out, the Jelly was good enough.
When we got back, the patriarch was ready for us. Kumoko led us toward a bigger cave than the one we arrived in. There, we were met by what looked like the whole Badger clan. Shapes in the dim light, big and small, cubs growling, playing, and chasing. Behind Tsuchigaru, lost in the darkness, an even bigger shape loomed.
Kumoko's tail waved in what I thought was excitement or maybe anticipation. I hadn't yet had that much contact with her to learn all her tail-tells. The only one I was confident about was the frustrated lashing. She did that a lot, by which I mean all the time. Such a young badger already behaving like a grumpy old grandma.
I imagined Kumoko and Chiyo-baa meeting. I had to hold in a giggle.
"You've returned," the giant said, rumbling voice ending my silly musings. "Unscathed."
An open scroll lay in front of him, splayed on the ground. Even from a distance, I could see names written on it. I knew what to do; a seed of bubbly happiness blossomed inside my gut. I had to hold in Fangirl-sama. My own summoning contract! Oh man, could it get even more ninja than that?
I walked closer, took out the seal, popped out the jelly jar. Presented my offering.
"I've returned with the jelly." I rasped out.
"So you have," Tsuchigaru said.
The cave descended into expectant silence.
"It's hereby declared a contract with Hebigan Kuchiyose-te." The patriarch said.
The cave exploded in growling and chattering and even roars.
"The summoner will provide the Iron Hide clan information about the snakes, pay in honey for our services, and facilitate acquiring products from the human lands, as well as any other prices negotiated between her and named members of the clan."
Tsuchigaru stopped, looked at the loud room, then at Kumoko.
"As negotiated by my youngest cub," — I heard an annoyed 'not a cub' — "Who earned the name Kumoko, the Iron Hide clan will provide our services for payment in honey, supply the summoner with equipment and provide a guide to lead her back to human lands."
There was a moment of pause. By my side, Kumoko was all but buzzing with anticipation, the annoyance at being called a cub all but forgotten. The room had become quiet again like every badger held its breath. The bubbly happiness in my stomach morphed into something different. I had a sinking feeling that something was very wrong here. I just wasn't sure what.
Tsuchigaru's face approached me until his giant beady eyes covered my field of vision. "Do you agree?" He asked.
I looked around at the now quiet spectators, a wide-eyed Karin gripping my wood kunai, and at Kumoko and her eager tail lashing. I couldn't find a reason why I was feeling apprehensive now. The moment stretched, and the silence got heavier.
"Yes." I said.
"So be it," the patriarch rumbled. "Sign the contract." He ordered.
I walked to the unfurled scroll, picked the dagger on top of it, pricked my finger, wrote my name in blood. Immediately, I felt something, like strands of webs shooting in all directions, connecting me to every badger in this chamber and beyond. It lasted for but a moment before it faded again.
"It's done." Said an even deeper voice from the darkness and the far corners of the room.
The cave erupted in noise once more. Kumoko started what I could only describe as a happy dance. Was this contract that important? Or was it that she had been the one that negotiated it?
The patriarch's rumble cut through the noise.
"Kumoko, you'll guide the summoner back to human lands."
The she-devil stopped, looked at her father. Her beady eyes were wide.
"And serve her for a year. Without payment." He said.
"What? No! Pops, why? I tricked her! Why are you punishing me?" Kumoko cried out, tail lashing out, frantic.
"Because you tricked her." Tsuchigaru's voice was calm but unrelenting.
Tricked? What? How? I thought back on the terms of the contract. I couldn't think how I had been tricked.
Kumoko cried out again. "But the stories! You said–"
"Those who wished us ill," Tsuchigaru said, voice still calm. "Did the summoner do anything to wish us ill?"
Kumoko glared at me, then at Karin. "But she brought an unworthy one!"
"Yes. She was not called, yet she came." Said the patriarch. His tone was final, and even though Kumoko kept grumbling, she didn't argue back.
Tsuchigaru's stare turned back to me. Bore down for a few moments before it shifted to Karin. "Take her away."
"No!" Karin shouted.
From the room's darkness, four badgers, big as horses, wearing armor, fishnet, weapons, ready to fight, stepped out. They moved toward us.
"Why?" Karin yelled, looking in every direction. "We got the jelly."
I stared at the big, then the tiny badger, still too stunned to react. I knew now what the trick Kumoko played on me was: the contract never included Karin.
My mind raced, analyzing this situation, trying to understand what I could do. There had to be a way.
Tsuchigaru had punished Kumoko for tricking me but hadn't overridden our negotiated terms. He had, in his way, repaid the trickery by forcing Kumoko to answer my summons for a whole year without pay. I was still dubious about the value of one year of servitude compared to whatever they planned to do to Karin. I was sure he wouldn't shy away from drastic measures, but I don't think we were there yet.
What had he said? "Wished us ill." I hadn't. I didn't even know about the clan before coming here. On the contrary, I was giddy and more than willing to help my fated ninja companions for explosion's sake!
Wasn't there a clue in the way they addressed Karin? Unworthy one. Why was she unworthy? Was this about not having any affinity with the Badgers as a summoner? I mean, summoning animals in Naruto's world was all but fate. Would she be unworthy because I dragged her here instead of her arriving guided by her own efforts or fate?
The warriors were closer, and I was running out of time. Karin was now by my side, still holding my hardwood kunai in white-gripped fingers. Her face was a determined scowl.
I wasn't about to let them take Karin. I owed her two lives, and I was the one who dragged her here. I would do my damnedest best to make sure she left here alive and kicking, even if fighting was out of the question. That left me with only one alternative I could think of.
"Name your terms." I said.
Tsuchigaru raised his massive paw. Wicked sharp claws in the air. The warriors stopped.
"You brought someone who shouldn't be here," Tsuchigaru rumbled, eyes flicking to Karin. "In times past, intruders paid for their release, fought, or died." The silence lingered. "Which one will it be?"
I looked at Karin, who now death-gripped my arm. Fighting and dying was out of the question.
"I'll pay."