Time to Heal

[Wahya Ayawisgi]

Wahya rushes over to Mar, his eyes widen to see the blue goop coming out of Kage's chest. He shakes his head and looks directly to Mar, "Mar, I know there has been alot going on in the last couple minutes, but we need to focus! What can we do to stop Oden from hurting anyone else?!"

Wahya glances over at Shimo to see what he was doing, but turns his attention quickly back to Mar for a answer.

[hitobannofokkusu]

Katashi, Maname, and Daisuke continue to kill "ghosts", but Dawn turns to Wahya. She thinks she knows what they have to do to make the fighting stop, so she answers Wahya for Mar.

I think we have to kill Oben while fighting off his undead army. A few of us should go after him, into the grotto, and kill him while the rest of us stay out here and keep the undead wolves away from where the main fight is happening. Hitoban is...momentarily detained, so she will be one of the ones staying out here. Maname and Daisuke are not that great at fighting, so they too should stay here. Hina, however, should go after Oben. Rin has already made her decision and I wish to go and help fight Oben. The rest of you can figure out where you want to go, but make sure there are enough people still out here to detain the wolves. When you've decided, we'll all go after him.

Dawn looked to Mar, not knowing if what she just said had any help in it at all.

If that's what we should do...

[Tsukikage]

Mar shook his head, "You're all pups, I swear..."
He dashed over to the last ghost and tore it to shreds. "You have to completely destroy them, like this. Otherwise, they'll just keep fighting."
Kage rose to his feet uneasily. His bones had already healed, but venom still dripped from the holes in his chest.
"Okay, here's the plan:" Mar began, "I'm afraid... yes, Oben will have to die here today, or he will come back for us with an even greater force. Now here's what we do. We've got to get Rin out of there before he finds her. Once the grotto is empty, he'll try to escape, so we must guard all the exits. After that, we can send in a strike team to force him out." He had a very commanding sort of air about him, like he'd done this sort of thing a dozen times... He turned to Hitoban, "I'm not sure who I'm talking to right now, but I'll need you; I can't kill my own brother, but my guess is you'd have no problem with it, am I right? I need you to do it quickly -- no playing around. Can you handle that?"

Shimo continued to gaze into the water. All this insanity started because of our powers... it'd be better if we were just ordinary wolves, then maybe... Tsubasa would still be alive... and Mar would have his family, an none of this would have ever happened! The reflection in the water became distorted as Shimo's tears fell to the water's surface.

Back in the grotto, Oben smelled... "A female... a sweet one, too. Hehe... maybe I'll get that scream after all..." Oh, but what shall I do to her? Enslaving her and using her against her friends is... too passe. I need something... something new, and terrifying! "Oh... I know... I wonder... if she has a mate yet?" He licked his muzzle lustily, wagging his dilapidated little tail. Yessss... that's a fantastic idea! She will be mine! "Wouldn't that be frightening? Carrying my child? Hehe... I wonder what she'll think of the idea... oh! I would die of rapture if she screamed for me! I bet her scream is glorious! But hush... we can't let her know we're here yet, now can we? Hehe... shh!" Right, sorry... we mustn't reveal ourself to her... until it's too late. He waited in the shadows with a psychotic grin on his face, and a twinkle in the abyss of his eye.

[hitobannofokkusu]

Dawn saw Kage get up and padded over to him just in case he needed support. She then looked at Mar.

So if we're blocking all of the exits then we would need to surround the pond and one or two of us would need to block the tunnel in the back of the waterfall. Who should do what?

Katashi listened to Mar talking and smirked. Aww...I can't play with him? Not even a little?

"You do exactly what he says Katashi!"

She cringed as if she'd been bitted and huffed. Fine! Jesus I swear you're too uptight Hitoban.

She looked at Tsuki and for a split second her eyes softened, then they regained their usual evil gleam, but a bit subdued. She looked at Mar and said What about Tsuki?

[Wahya Ayawisgi]

Wahya listens to Dawn and Mar, he nods as he understands what to do now, "Alright, I will go where I am needed. You tell me where to go and I will do my part of the job."

Wahya notices that Kage had got back to his feet, Good to see him back up. But... Wahya glances in the distance to the beasts, These things.... they are nothing what I have seen before.

[Tsukikage]

Mar looked over the group... "Kat... Katashi, was it? Anyway, you're with me, Little Miss. Don't worry about Tsuki..." He can feel my pain, can't he? Poor kid... I... this never should've happened...
Tsuki nodded from the ground, "Yeah... I'm fine, Kat... really... you just stick with the plan... I'll be back up before ya know it." He hadn't seen Katashi or Kazumi in a while, but it was almost... nice to see her -- but only because he knew she was still Hitoban in there somewhere. Well, she did say they all shared their affections... maybe it's rubbing off, hehe...
Kage was a bit shaky, but he nuzzled Dawn reassuringly.
Mar nodded, "Okay, I need Wahya and Kage up behind the waterfall. He won't be able to find that exit as easily, but if he does, Kage will have healed better by then. Little Miss, you and I will be out here, ready to pounce. We must keep out of sight until he's far enough away to block off any retreat, understand? Dawn, you've got to go in and extract Rin. Now be care--"
"No!" Kage barked, "I'll go. He can't hurt me! Just don't send Dawn. She can take my spot with Wahya."
"This isn't up for discussion, Kage!" Mar snapped back, dwarfing Kage, "Dawn must go. She can maneuver within the grotto better than you, and he won't be so hasty to attack a female. Also," He said, turning to Dawn, "I trust you to stick to the mission. My boys are brave, but Kage especially can be a little too rash. We don't need heroics right now, I need someone efficient." He turned back to Kage, "I'm sorry, but that's just how it is. If there are no further questions, then get to your posts. Shimo, I'll need you to try and conceal yourself and Tsuki."
Shimo nodded, and pulled Tsuki into the bushes, while Kage climbed begrudgingly to the waterfall. Mar took his position behind the trees.

[Wahya Ayawisgi]

Wahya listens to the full plan, listening to where everyone would be, he nods to his position, "Me and Kage will do our best." Wahya starts to walk toward the waterfall, but stops as he hears Kage raise his voice toward Mar wanting to switch places with Dawn. He looks back to Kage and Mar, when Mar told Kage again where he was going, he watched Kage start to walk toward the waterfall.

Wahya stands there a moment staring at Mar before turning and following behind Kage, "Kage, Dawn will be fine... she knows that cave very well so she will be in and out."

[Rynn]

Rin emerged into the grotto and shook the water out of her fur and wings. She stood in the entrance, she could smell Oben but because she couldn't see him she didn't move from the entrance in case she had to make a fast exit. " I know your there.....your scent is all over this place...show yourself."

[Tsukikage]

"Aww... now you've gone and ruined my fun..." Oben frowned from the shadows. He had an eerie ability to make his voice echo no matter where he was, so finding him through sound was virtually impossible. I know full-well about my scent, princess. I smell of rotting flesh and undying malice... and I've rubbed it all over this cave. You won't find me... but I will find you! "So..." He hissed, "do I frighten you little girl? Oh I hope so, I would be just heartbroken if you didn't scream with terror!" His voice was both fluid and pleasing to the ear, but bitter to the soul, and evil filled every word. "You're mine now..." The voice came from behind her. No wait... "Do you know what I am going to do?" The left room. "I am going to take you, and you shall bear my offspring!" The right room. "Now will you not scream for me?" Now it was bouncing to-and-fro. "This is no fun... maybe you wouldn't make a suitable mate, after all..." A whimpering noise flooded the grotto and rang in Rin's ears like a whistle.

[hitobannofokkusu]

Katashi watched Mar with a kind of confused expression on her face. Confusion and a hint of rebellion. Why was he talking to her as if she were Hitoban? She is not Hitoban and should thus not be called by her nickname. Whatever, I guess I can deal for now she thought. Wait a minute...am I going soft? Oh God maybe I am...that means I'll be gone in a manner of weeks. As soon as this thing is over I'm going to have to kill someone. Perhaps that Rin...no, Hitoban would kill me if I hurt anyone here. I would have to get her to go somewhere else, or bring someone here. Someone....like Twilight! She has malice for him hidden deep in her heart so it wouldn't be hard. And besides, I could call him here without her even knowing about it. Yes, that will do. Oh, what are they talking about?

Katashi snapped out of her plotting just barely in time to hear Tsuki's ridiculous nickname, "Kat", where she is supposed to be, and that Tsuki is going to be in someone else's care. Damn it, why couldn't she watch him while she's hiding? Perhaps she can... She followed Shimo and Tsuki and hid in a tree, just above the two of them. Then she waited.

Dawn listened to Mar's instructions and nodded, a little scared but willing to do it. It was her job to get Rin out safely. That she could do. If Rin was somewhere close to the entrance, that is... If not then it might be a bit more difficult to get out without Oben noticing. He would probably notice anyway, but by then they would be out and it would be in Mar and Katashi's hands. Oh Hitoban, why don't you come back out? Sure Katashi might be a better fighter than you, but she might turn on us once it's over.

She came out of her thoughts when Kage shouted and she looked at him. He wanted to take her place? No way that's happening! You've still got to heal Kage...I promise I'll be fine...I only wish I could say that...

Now she went over to the pool, took one last look back to make sure everyone was where they were supposed to be, then dove in fluidly, making barely a ripple. She emerged into the grotto and was very glad to see Rin just inside the entrance. She heard Oben's voice and it sounded like it was coming from everywhere at once, but she didn't falter. She crept up to Rin and stood beside her silently, then whispered to her.

Come on Rin. We've developed a plan and you need to come with me and get out of here. All she could do now was hope Oben didn't decide to make a surprise appearance.

[Tsukikage]

Oben began giggling. It was a heart-numbing sound, somewhere between a puppy's laughter and a madman's cackle. He stepped in such a way that his shadow walked across the wall to stand behind them. The shadow's eyes seemed to glow in the dim lighting. "So... another female..." He quivered with excitement, barely able to restrain himself. "Hmm... I wonder if I could sire two litters... yes... I think we've got time..." He couldn't resist any longer. He slunk slowly from the shadows and stared at them intensely with his black orbs. His eyes were invisible against the black of his fur. He stood straight up, doubling his previous height. He was drooling all over the floor, and was obviously... aroused by the females. "You'll have to forgive my appearance... I'm much scarier on the inside!"
With every slow and deliberate step he took towards them, his entire body quivered uncontrollably. "So... hehehe... which of you wants to be first? Maybe you, Moonlight?" At that moment, several white snakes and insects wrapped themselves around the girls' paws, in an attempt to immobilize them. Oben rolled over, laughing wildly. This is too much! Two females for me! Oh I do hope one of them screams! He regained his composure, and walked up to whisper in their ears with his smooth, serpentine voice. "You saw what happened when one of my friends bite you, didn't you? It's... fascinating, really; the venom travels through your bloodstream, destroying everything like an acid, until it reaches your heart, and then... well, you can use your imagination." He licked Dawn a few times with his slimy tongue, then stood back to watch their reactions. Oh please scream! PLEASE, I can't stand this! Oh... maybe they'll scream once I've had them beneath me... "Anyway, I wouldn't move if I were you. Just... relax... I'd promise to be gentle with you, but I'm really too much of a wretched creature for that."

Something was wrong. Kage could feel it. "I'm going in, Wahya, don't try to stop me." He dashed through the entrance, stopping just in time to see Oben licking Dawn. "Get away from her!!!" He shouted as he charged. Oben dodged easily, but he wasn't the target. Kage threw himself longways into the girls, knocking both of them into the water. The creatures were dislodged for now, which had been the goal. Oben hissed, "You frustrate me, pup!" As his dark gaze fixed on Kage, his minions began their advance. "Time to go, ladies!" Kage barked.

[hitobannofokkusu]

As Oben appeared, Dawn growled, her scruff up, and put a paw in front of Rin. She saw the snakes and insects and she took a snake in her mouth, ripping it to pieces, but left the others. She knew as long as she was quiet he wouldn't make them do anything and that would give her time to formulate a plan. She listened begrudgingly to his words and nearly choked when he spoke of litters. She wanted to charge him, to rip his vile little head off, but she controlled herself. Her job was to protect Rin, and if she overreacted then he might take that time to get to Rin.

As he whispered to her she growled, her lip quivering, flashing her canines at him. He was so close...it wouldn't be hard to just snap around and rip off his ears, maybe an eyeball. She loathed him at that moment and as he licked her she just about lost it. But then Kage had to go and break the rules and she soon found herself in the water. She let out her breath in a type of underwater sigh, sending bubbles floating up, then pushed at Rin, telling her to go to the surface. She spoke as well as she could underwater.

In, gbow fend Mabar 'n lll mbeet ooh bear.

She only hoped that her message came across a little clearer than she thought it did and she gave her another push for emphasis. Then she turned and swam back down to the entrance, tripping at the entrance and rolling past Kage right up to Oben. She crashed into him and sat up, shaking her head.

Ouch...stupid ledge...

She then realized who she was in front of, sitting, completely defenseless and instead of screaming or running away, she aimed a firm headbutt at his chest. She ran around him in a circle, hoping to distract him and each time she came around to face Kage she threw him a glance that said something like 'stick with the plan and get out of here now or I'll bite you later'.

She began jumping from one side of the circle to the other, switching positions and clawing at him. She bit at him at each jump over, swiping at flesh with her claws and hoped to God she wasn't just making a fool of herself. As she did this, she spoke-another element to the distraction.

You vile being. I would never allow you to sire a litter of mine if you chopped off all my legs! No one would because you're disgusting. You smell and I'll bet your fur's all matted too. At this she swiped at his fur, just to bug him. You see, I'm not like most wolves. I fight back. I will kill you and you know what? I have a secret weapon.

Now Dawn stopped right in front of him, squeezed her eyes shut, and concentrated on all of the gory fantasies about killing this wretch that crossed her mind. When she opened her eyes a bright white beam came from her head, directly into Oben's eyes. Whether it had any effect on him she didn't know, but now it was Kage's turn to retreat. She could out-swim this creature any day and she could easily outrun him if only Kage would give her the chance and leave.

Kage go! I'll be fine, I promise.

[Tsukikage]

Kage nodded, "You'd better be right behind me, or I swear -- Just be careful, Love." He stole a quick kiss before making his exit.

Oben hissed, "You b.itch! I never expected so much... anger..." He stared straight into the light, and cried tears of blood. "It's beautiful... so much hostility... so much anger! You would've make a fine mate..." He looked around him... the demonic blue flame within his servants became agitated in the presence of Dawn's white light, swallowing each creature whole. He didn't stand a chance in here... "I hope death is as beautiful... shall we find out?" He let out a howl and dashed into Dawn, knocking her into the water. He himself swam out, emerging very near Tsuki's hiding spot. Kage had already given Mar the head's up, and Mar had repositioned behind the waterfall. "I know you're there... Where are you?" He was frightened, but also insane. He searched nearby, and found Tsuki. "Oh... why hello there..."

Tsuki gave no indication of Katashi's presence; Oben hadn't seemed to notice, and the element of surprise would make this quick. Tsuki's crest glowed, reflecting in Oben's eyes. "You seem... familiar..." He stared curiously into the crescent moon for a moment, then shook it off as mere coincidence. "You don't look well, would you like to die first?"
"No..." Mar called from the edge of the water. He narrowed his gaze at the contemptible creature, a single tear escaping his eyes, "He wouldn't."
The trap was sprung. Oben wheeled around to face Mar, cowering before the giant. Mar was between Oben and the water, and behind him were only trees, with Katashi somewhere in them. Now was the time to strike.

[hitobannofokkusu]

Dawn coughed as she was rammed, the air knocked out of her and everything faded to black as she hit the water. She floated there, underwater, unable to see for the head rush and unable to breath because of the ram. She willed her sight to clear and as soon as she could see again she swam toward the surface. She broke through, sending a shower of water droplets everywhere and gulping at the air. She panted for a second, then swam to the side and climbed out. She shook out her fur and stood, the light gone, scruff up, and growling, blocking his retreat back into the grotto. If he wanted to get back in it would be through her and she already knew how to deal with him.

Katashi curled closer to the tree trunk and the branch she was sitting on as Oben drew closer. She couldn't give away her position now-that would ruin everything. She watched him wheel around and knew now was her time. She jumped down from the tree, not making a sound, and padded noiselessly up behind him. She got as close as she dared, stretched her neck out and whispered, Boo.

Now she jumped up, hoping he would have wheeled around again and in his confusion she would strike. It might not work, but everything was going too fast for her to tell anyway. She came down on him, her claws aiming at his back and sides, her teeth aiming for his neck. With any luck she would be allowed to rip his cowardly little head off.

[Tsukikage]

Oben calmly stepped to the side, easily dodging Katashi's attack. He looked at everyone with something of regret in his eyes. "I'm not going to leave this place alive, am I?" He sighed. It was almost as if he was bored of the whole thing. "I just remembered something... brother..."
Mar gasped, holding back tears. He couldn't be sure he wasn't talking to one of his long-dead brothers... or to him.
Oben continued nonchalantly, "I... never did want to hurt anyone... I wonder what happened to me along the way... something... changed, and death became my gift to the world. Fear was fun -- I couldn't get enough of it." Black tears dripped off of his eyes, and as they did, his eyes changed to a brilliant royal blue. "I'm sorry... that I tried to hurt everyone... I should go." His voice became clear and sweet, and deepened. He turned and smiled at Mar, as his army of death came for him. "You take care of yourself, okay?" Rabbits, insects, and serpents began biting into him, filling his veins with the venom of death. "No! Oben!" Mar shouted. He rushed to his brother's side, ripping the dead creatures off. "No... why, Oben? Why did it come to this? You... you remembered me!" He cried.
Oben smiled up at him, blue ooze dripping from the puncture wounds that riddled his body. "I don't know who you are, brother... I don't..." His body began to spasm from the intense pain. "I have no memories of you... but your... m-memories of us -- I can see them... that kid, Tsuki -- you are my brother, even if I don't know you... I've done enough damage... and *ngh!* I can't... I'm not meant to be with you... T-take c-a-r-e of... yourself!" His body finally relaxed, and melted away, leaving only a charred spot on the ground. All the animals under his control also melted away. It was over...
Mar collapsed into tears, "It's been... I haven't seen those eyes since you were just a pup.... and... your voice... I never thought... I'd hear it ag--" He stared at the black patch on the ground, drenching the spot with his tears. He threw his head back and let out a long, sorrowful howl.

Tsuki, Kage, and Shimo merely stood back and watched. There was no need for any of them to interfere with Mar's mourning. Everyone was safe now. Kage walked over to Dawn and stood with his body against hers, though he refrained from nuzzling out of respect for his uncle.