Third Sunrise
[ Warning. Heavy Angst.]
The Celestial Plain is ablaze, as a white wolf with a light that burns the eyes shining upon her fights a massive eight-headed monster. Yamata no Orochi. Waka, the Tao Master fights at her side, and with one surging heave, the white wolf propels herself forward, and plunges below the heavens with the massive beast.
"For many moons you waited for the chosen one..the one who would slay Orochi.." Waka's voice echoes between a white mist...and the vision swirls as trees and mountains whisk past. A white wolf, the same wolf, stands above a cliff, overlooking a village enshrouded with cherry blossoms.
"Who is that?! A familar of Orochi?! " A villager spots the wolf, and they stare in horror. "What a strange beast.." Nagi, the village warrior chases the wolf, and she only shies away from him, leaving him to curse. "I'll name you Shiranui you pesky beast..Dont' come near our village again. Orochi will have...his.." He doesn't finish the sentence, and Shiranui only stares with solemn, intelligent eyes, before turning and walking away.
(She wanders the village, and the villagers are used to seeing her patrol the village, until a few monthes pass...)
It's Weird furball, if they knew who you are...they'd be grateful for it. Yet you won't try to let them know? You're just going to take this aren't you Ammy....
A green ball on her fur vanishes into it, as Shiranui shakes her fur once and howls at the moon.
--
The village of Kamiki is fearful. The Full moon is overhead and they are full of dread as suddenly eight swirling elements encircle the sky above them. From these elements a white plumed arrow shines, piercing a hut while the villagers watch in frozen horror.
Nagi, a burly looking warrior, stares at the lovely Nami, the sakebrewer, who exchanges a weak, sad smile.
"Nami..you will be the.." The elder, Mr. Grapefruit, is horrified. "The 100th Sacrifice.."
"I'll go..it's about time that I go...if not he will destroy our village.." Nami says faintly, and takes the legendary Sake, the 8 Purification Sake, and goes to bath herself. Shiranui watches from a cliff, the light shining on her fur, as the moon shines above.
--
Nami isn't alone for long. In the Moon Cave, where smoke and darkness comes like a mist, she enters the barrier. She's afraid and trembling. Purple mist shines around the darkened sky and a great earthshattering roar sounds from deep within the cave. She still continues, and from far away a white wolf watches, silent.
--
Nagi pursues, and you see now a great area, surrounded with eight empty holes and a kanji for each of the elements inscribed in them. A shrine lies in the center..[ I'm going with what might have happened before Amaterasu enters the Spirit Gate]
And Nami rests within it. The shrine begins to shake and the horrible beast appears. Eight heads, serpent mouths and faces, and glowing red eyes with necks the size of tree trunks. A terrible roar. "The 100th Sacrifice and I too shall become a God.." The beast hisses with eight voices, teeth stained with blood from it's recent meal.
"..You foul beast!" Nagi appears, he's trembling with fear, and he almost drops his sword. The moon shines eerily above them as the beast laughs and laughs. Though terrified, Nagi engages the great beast, securing Nami's safety he fights, trembling until he's exhausted. The sake barrel falls from Nami's hands, and spills into the eight pools. The beast loves drink and can't resist, and begins slurping it down.
Nagi stares bewilderedly. "The beast is..is drunk." It's movements clumsy, Nagi is too weak to retaliate.
It's then that a bright light shines in his eyes, blinding him. A snarl echoes as the white wolf appears.
"Shiranui..you would aid him, you--" But the wolf snaps at the great beast, and stands it's ground. The wolf and monster fight. One head counters with flames, and Shiranui summons great winds that stop the blaze. One head summons water. Shiranui creates Lily Pads that it uses to leap from one to another, snapping at it as it uses claw and fang.
It aims for the kill and a great tree rises from Shiranui's figure, shielding the beast as it fights to protect Nagi. It's magnificent pelt is dyed crimson and it's gritted fangs, and panting mouth is stained red from it's own blood and Orochi's.
"You..god...you would defy me?" Orochi slurs drunkenly, and bites into the beast, Shiranui letting out a pitiful howl. Nagi stares in horror as Shiranui leaks blood from it's form, panting as it turns to stare at him. Nagi feels strength once again as the beast drinks more and more of the sake, Shiranui, battered, bloodied, and suffering from Orochi's poison, stands at his side.
Shiranui stares at the sky, without a moon, and with one great howl, stands beside Nagi. Nagi stares in wonder as a full moon appears. As if beckoning him, the moon shines. He lifts his sword, and it is bathed in almost a divine light, making it flush golden as he stands. He no longer trembles. Shiranui whines softly at him, bloodied mouth panting as her eyes glisten with intelligence.
"Let's end this Shiranui." He says, and the wolf whimpers softly, as Nagi plunges forward and attacks each of the heads, severing each one as they fall with a great thud, the ground cracking beneath them. Heads severed, Orochi falls leaving Nagi to stand beside Nami dazedly as the ground crumbles. He turns to stare at Shiranui but finds her not there. Nami cries in horror beside him as from above a massive boulder, falls from the rubble, and falls straight towards Nagi.
Just when he thinks it's going to crush him, A white light engulfs the boulder, and he stares in horror as Shiranui, gasping, fur dripping blood, lifts the boulder. Their eyes meet. Shiranui, the wolf who the villagers branded as a 'monster and familiar of Orochi' is now using all her battered strength to shield Nagi from the boulder's weight. A ragged gasp escapes the wolf's lips as Nagi stares. "Shiranui..then this whole time you were..." He whispers, as the wolf heaves and the boulder breaks.
She sways on her feet, blood drizzling from her fur in small puddles, fangs dyed red, eyes half-lidded and brilliant glow fading swiftly. In a display of kindness Nagi knows that this wolf..this wolf isn't a normal wolf. Like some angel, it's here for a reason...
Lifting the wolf in his battered arms, he leaves the Moon Cave, the wolf's blood spilling onto his arms and armor as they head for Kamiki.
--
Why would you care so much for these people that won't even acknowledge your divinity, Ammy? It's..it's strange. An unknown voice echoes this as it cracks with despair , "Furball you knew all along didn't you.."
--
The villagers stare in shock as Nagi returns, holding a bloodied bundle of white and red in his arms. "Nagi does this mean that Orochi is..." The elder whispers, and the villagers stare in shock. "Is that Shiranui...? Why is it..."
"This wolf saved us..." Nagi says simply, and his eyes are sad. "It watched us from afar...fought beside me..protected me..." They cover their mouthes in horror as Nagi gently lowers the bundle. Shiranui stands on shaking legs, gasps rattling her bloodstained jaws as she stumbles, blood pouring from her wounds, deep gashes...the poison has taken it's toll, and with a great sigh, she falls forward, beneath the cherry blossom trees.
The villager's gasp in horror, crowding around the wolf.
"Is there nothing that can be done...?" Nagi looks away, before gently reaching out a hand to stroke the bloodied head. "You are a kind beast..aren't you Shiranui? Good girl...good girl.." The wolf lifts it's glazed amber eyes and stares at Nagi, a soft sigh escaping her.
They gather around her and gently stroke her fur, her ears, not minding the blood staining their hands. The blood that was shed for their sake. Shiranui smiles a wolfy smile, as her eyes glaze, and the sky above seems to darken, the trees seem to howl, as her breathing slows.
The Elder pets her last, and there are tears in his eyes. "..Thank you..Shiranui...forgive us." And the wolf's eyes seem to light up, as her tail struggles to wag one more pathetic time. A soft, pitiful bark escapes her like a rattle, as she stares at the faces around her. The concerned faces of bewildered mortals.
You can sense the intense urge of happiness in the wolf's heart . For the briefest instant you can see a girl in white, covered in the same injuries, smile as tears fill her eyes. Tears of joy.
The wind howls as the wolf's body slumps, and goes still. The soft, intelligent eyes are glazed, as they close one final time, into a one hundred year slumber.
The cherry blossoms are falling.
The world is silent.
And so the legend of Shiranui and Nagi was remembered in the village, where the villagers revered the wolf with adoration...
[Amaterasu stares at the dreamberry with a small wolfy smile. ]