Safe with Wolves

Inuyasha winced as he limped closer to the village, his major injuries were hardly healing. He didn't realized just how wounded he really was since he had yet to inspect himself. All he knew is that his blood was turning his already red clothes darker.

"Inuyasha?" yawned Shippo, who had fallen asleep for most of the trip back.

"We're just outside of the village." Inuyasha told him. Shippo rubbed his eyes and looked before hopping down from Inuyasha's arms. 

"I'll go find Lady Kaede!" Shippo bolted off, leaving Inuyasha calling after him. 

"Damn kid." sighed Inuyasha before he continued to walk. He just made it into the village when Shippo came running back with Kaede behind him. He lept onto Inuyasha's shoulder once he was a few feet away.

"Shippo already explained." Kaede stated solemly. "Come, we need to take a look at those wounds."

She ushered Inuyasha into her hut and helped him get his torso bare. She looked at the wounds, noting that the smaller ones were healing while a large slash that went from his shoulder down to the opposite hip had barely started to close.

"Shippo, could  ye go and gather herbs? Some of the women can help you if ye ask for herbs for long, deep slashes."

Shippo nodded before running out and off, leaving the old woman and Inuyasha in silence.

"Inuyasha..."

"...Don't..." was Inuyasha's quiet response. He had his head tilted down as he sat cross legged. "Just...not now..."

Kaede sighed but didn't speak after that. She could tell how much losing almost his whole pack was affecting him.

It didn't take too long for Shippo to come back or for Kaede to make the paste. She carefully smoothed some over the large slash and she could see Inuyasha's jaw tensing. She quickened her pace until she was done. She dressed his torso in bandages and moved away.

"I'll go wash the blood from-" She began but Inuyasha stopped her.

"I can do it myself." Inuyasha stood, his breath hitching from the slight pain.

"Inu-"

"I said, I'll do it." Inuyasha snapped before grabbing his bloodied clothes and going to the river, Shippo following after. 

He sat down on the bank and started to wash his clothes, his mind going to Kagome's family. He's going to have to go through the well and tell them what happened...

He shook his head and continued to wash until a familiar scent hit his nose. He felt his body tense, not wanting to deal with the wolf at all.

"Oi, muttface," Kouga walked out of the bushes a few feet away from him. "Damn, it really was you that was bleeding so much."

"Go away." Inuyasha snapped without much bite. "I'm not in the mood."

"Where's my woman?" Kouga asked, ignoring what Inuyasha had said. "I didn't smell her with you."

"...Not here..."

"Well, no shit. Where is she?"

Inuyasha's ears lowered, his moving hands slowing to a stop. "Naraku."

"WHAT?!" Kouga roared. "What the hell did he do to her?! Did he kidnap her? Why a-"

"She's dead."

"....What did you say, dog breath?" 

Inuyasha's ears just pressed against his head, just waiting for Kouga to lash out.

"Don't blame Papa!" Shippo quickly scampered in between them, not realizing what he had just called Inuyasha. "He tried to save her, but Naraku was just too much! W-we lost half of our pack there!"

"Half of your..." Kouga glanced at Inuyasha and really actually see the difference in the half-demon.

He was slouched in his spot, his ears pressed against his head and a lost, anguished expression was on his face.

The wolf demon stared at Inuyasha for a moment before sighing, rubbing his face. "Where exactly are you staying?"

"In the village nearby." Shippo answered. 

Kouga sighed. "Hurry up and finish your clothes."