A howl sounded in the distance. Her ears strained as she stared              down the man. Her brother only proven that her suspicions were              true. 

                                                  ❝ You’re no god! I’ll lever allow a demon to pass through                                                        these woods! ❞

        It was then that she attacked, jumping forward to swipe at him. She           was faster than many humans, stronger as well. She thanked her mother           and the forest spirit for that.

          ☾ —— ||     No hesitation was spared upon her pounce,                        his body pivoting aside to avoid--easily--the swipe                        of her bone-made-blade. What a blunt weapon.                                                                "...Foolish girl."                             His only hand reached out, clasping her thin                        wrist betwixt his dangerous fingers, wrenching                        the arm to disarm her, and pin her still. She smelled                        like a wolf, but her blood was surely human.                                             "You're no match for me. You dare                                                         raise your blade to a Lord?"

✖ — ;; Inky tresses pooled around the already shadowed form, chilled winds whirled through, adding a sense of darkness to the already cooled environment. Patience was a tool He had come across in his many years of Deathly activities. 

                              Patience. 

A confident figure emerged from the rustling forest. Slowly, yet smoothly, Death stood, greeting the newly approaching male. 

          ☾ —— ||     The figure that stood within the waves of grain                        encompassed the darkness he'd sensed. Something                        about this creature was terribly imposing...and for                        some reason, though it was incomprehensible to him,                        he felt that he would not be able to avoid this person.                                                                     No one could.                            "...Identify yourself." He demanded, voice cold.

             A jump back, knife at the ready.

                                                  ❝ If you’re a god then why do I sense something                                                      dark about you? ❞

          ☾ —— ||     The pitiful blade failed to intimidate him.                                                      "I am Lord Sesshomaru, of the West.                                                 Darkness is in my blood. Let me pass, girl."

☾ —— ℓeading the вlind

At the Lord’s assertion, I opened my eyes for a moment in shock, before closing them, having been told the sight of their ruined gore was deeply unsettling and disgusting.

Rin bounced to lead me, but at her words I winced. Friend. But such was a child’s understanding, and I wouldn’t desecrate her innocence.

Perhaps he would kill me himself, were we to meet. I chided myself, for surely, he hadn’t meant this for me. He was cruel, but not THIS cruel.

Then why didn’t he come, I asked myself, a dog worrying a sore wound. Even to find the body, even to bury me. Why didn’t he come. And if he did, surely he knows I survived. Youko never had any love for slavers, surely, surely, surely he wouldn’t leave me to this…consign me to this hell, and leave me robbed even of hope.

I couldn’t reconcile it, these thoughts chasing themselves in circles around my head, my mouse hope caught by the cat of cynicism and pain.

I breathed out, asking Rin to find me a sturdy hardwood stick with a smile. She ran to get one as this commanding lord walked off, and came back to put it in my hand. I followed, trying to keep up with the pace.

Trying was the operative word of that sentence. By the end of the hour, I had fallen ten times at least, once every six minutes. I got up grimly every time, Rin cajoling me forward. I was weak, malnourished, thirsty. But I followed this lord as well as I could.

          ☾ —— ||     The weakness in the once-slave's knees was clearly                        do to malnourishment. What good were slaves to be sold                        if they weren't kept in proper condition? And his handicap                        didn't help much at all. How was a person who couldn't                        walk be of any use to him? Jaken seemed to be asking                        himself this as he sneered with every tumble he took.                             In response to his falters, the Lord merely turned a                        marked cheek and continued on along his path until they                        reached the edge of the forest. Rushing water could be                        heard. The sound was followed until they reached the                        river, a good deal farther than the aforementioned one to                        the west, but a place to rest all the same.                             A soft, yet sharp glance was given to the battered                        demon before he turned away, heading back into the                        forest as he spoke. "...We'll rest here. You can bathe.                        Stay in the shallow water." Far too many a time had                        he waded into the churning currents of a river to rescue                        the shrieking pair of servants. A third would be irritating.                             Within fifteen minutes, the Lord had returned with a                        great boar upon his back, its neck snapped. It was rare                        that Lord Sesshomaru would retrieve food for those who                        followed him. This was clear by the way that Jaken gaped,                        and Rin gasped with elation as he threw the carcass down                        before the toad with a sickening thud.                               "Jaken. Light a fire. Cook it. The boy can barely                        stand. He's malnourished, and dehydrated. Handle it."