In The Shadow Of The Wolf Queen

Yeah, I know it's been forever since I posted on this.  But my new years resolution is to finish what I've started.

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“You’re outta your mind, you wimpy wolf,” Inuyasha said, looking at Kouga as though he were a new strain of disease he’d just discovered.  “Why the hell would I answer the summons of a snobby little wolf queen who hasn’t been seen in the real world for over a hundred and fifty years?”

 

“Because she wants you there,” came a voice from somewhere around Inuyasha’s waist.  “I don’t care if you’re going or not, I am,” Shippo said firmly.

 

“Shippo, we don’t know what she wants,” Sango said.

 

“I don’t care.  My parents said if I ever got into any real trouble I was to go to the wolf queen.  So, if she wants me there, I’ll be there.”

 

“If it’s any consolation, dog faced boy, she wants your stuck up brother as well.  I gotta go find him after I finish with you,” Kouga said with a mild sneer.

 

“No need to find me,” came a voice from behind him.  “I am well aware of her summons.”

 

The party visibly jumped at the sound of Sesshomaru’s voice.  Rin peered around him and waved at Shippo.

 

“Yes, Sesshomaru-sama is already on his way to the wolf queen’s palace,” Jakken said in his usual, pompous manner.

 

“Jakken,” Sesshomaru said without looking down at the little toad demon.

 

“Yes, Sesshomaru-sama?”

 

“Be silent.”

 

“Of course, Sesshomaru-sama.”

 

“So . . .  um, I guess that means we can travel together,” Kagome said.

 

One elegant eyebrow lifted disdainfully.  “If you believe you can keep up,” Sesshomaru sneered.

 

 

Lily bounded into the throne room and up onto the dais.  “They’re almost here, my Lady,” she said, sounding nervous and excited at the same time.

The wolf queen chuckled weakly at the exuberance and life the young girl displayed.  It was nice to have around now that she had very little energy left to do anything.  “I’m aware of that, Lily,” she said with a gentle smile for the girl. She’d made arrangements for her, of course, because she wasn’t exactly sure what would happen when she was no longer leader of the packs.  She was so tired now, could feel her life slipping faster and faster from her grasp but she had to hang on for just a little while longer.  One last time, she’d promised herself that, just one last time to make certain everything was well and secure with him. Then she’d set him free like he seemed to want.

 

Rin looked around her nervously and held on tightly to the edge of Sesshomaru’s kimono.  They were in a whole city of wolves and it made her more than a little bit unnerved. Sesshomaru strode through the crowds as though he expected to have a clear path, which he did for the most part.  The younger individuals looking at him and the rest of the party curiously while the elder members seemed to be staring at the tall Lord in something akin to shock.

Rin thought she heard the whispered words “he’s returned” and had to wonder what it all meant.  She didn’t have time to ponder it properly as they were suddenly being led through a gateway and up a broad path to a palace.

Miroku let out a long, low whistle at the place.  “Wow! Very stylish,” he said.

“What? You thought we all lived in caves or somethin’?” Kouga snarled at him.

“Hadn’t really thought about it one way or another,” Miroku said.

“This is the Imperial palace,” Sesshomaru supplied. “Most of them do live in caves or places closer to the forest. Packs rotate into and out of the city every few months because that’s as long as they can stand to be away from the forests. Usually packs are only here to settle some sort of dispute their pack leader isn’t qualified to judge and it needs to be taken to the wolf queen.”

“Yes. That’s true,” Kouga said. “The last few years though, most everyone has been here. Those of us that are left anyway.  It was safer when Naraku was out there and trying to absorb as many as he could.”

Sesshomaru nodded slightly.  He could see her pulling all of her people into the city where they would have some small modicum of safety instead of roaming abroad to be picked off one pack at a time. He frowned internally, though to the outside observer his features remained a smooth mask, it was very unlike her to call him to her. In fact, he’d not even seen her in the last two hundred years or so if he recalled correctly. So, why now when Naraku was no more and everyone was relatively safe? Something flitted through his mind at that moment, something he was certain he should recall but it was as elusive as attempting to grasp smoke.

Rin held on tightly to him as they entered the building, following Kouga even though Sesshomaru knew perfectly well where they were going. The hallways were dimly lit and the figures in the carved wood panels running the length of them seemed to move in the torchlight. Rin relaxed somewhat when they stepped into the throne room and she spotted a human girl not much older than she was perched near the wolf queen’s seat.

Sesshomaru’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he studied the individual he’d known all of his life.  Something was wrong but he wasn’t certain what it was. Yet.

She stood slowly and the internal frown he’d been wearing since they arrived finally showed on his features.  Her movements were wrong, slow and seeming to be in a great deal of pain.

She cleared her throat a little. “I bid you welcome, Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango and Shippo. Thank you for coming.”

“Why are we here though?” Kagome asked.

“I will get to that in a moment,” the wolf queen said.  Her eyes turned to Sesshomaru and she nodded a greeting to him. “Husband.”

He returned the nod, enjoying his brother’s shock when he said, “Wife.”