The late afternoon sun shone brightly on the travelers as Koga, Kagome, & Catriona made their way to Koga's den, where Koga hoped Ginta & Hakkaku were still safe & nothing had occurred while he was gone. It would take them a few days to get back to the den since he wouldn't be able to carry Kagome & Catriona on his back. If he could it would make things go a lot quicker, but he knew it wasn't possible. Koga looked to his side at his mate that walked beside him, looking around & taking in the scenery.
Kagome sighed softly as she thought about how beautiful this land look & she was happy that it doesn't get too badly ruined by the people as time goes on. She was happy that there was still plenty of open land for people to walk on. She smiled as a breeze hit her from behind & made her hair blow infront of her, dancing on the wind.
Catriona's mind was too busy thinking about Sesshomaru's question & the question's that had emerged in her mind afterwards to realize that a few feet ahead of her, Koga had stopped. Her lack of attention caused her to knock into the ookami. "Sorry Koga." She noticed he didn't answer her. "Koga?"
"We're being followed," he finally spoke, turning his head back slightly to sniff the air behind them, tail twitching when he caught the scent again as the breeze brought it to him.
"Do you know the scent Koga?" Kagome asked, turning around as she grabbed her bow from it's spot against her back & an arrow from her quiver, getting the arrow ready.
"It smells like Sesshomaru," he answered, his head tilting to the side slightly. "But, it's different..."
"What do you mean different?" Catriona asked, wondering why her mate's scent would be different in any way.
Catriona turned around & looked at the cloud of dust that was rising up & getting closer with each passing second. -Sesshomaru wouldn't have followed us, would he?- She thought, her curiosity overcoming her. "Koga, is it Sesshomaru?"
"I don't think it is," Koga answered as a frown fell upon his mouth. "I can see clearly who it is & I'm telling you, it isn't Sesshomaru," he answered as Catriona & Kagome both looked at him. He nodded in the direction of the being that was now clearly in view of everyone & both girls turned their heads.
Catriona caught sight of who it was & found herself feeling shocked at how far he had come in such a short time. She knew they had traveled at least 60 miles so far & it had taken them from early morning when Sesshomaru woke them all up, until near night fall to get this far. They were making surprisingly good time for how long it had been.
"Why is he following us?" Kagome asked as she looked at Catriona, who shrugged because she had no idea as to why they were being followed by this person. She put away her arrow & put the bow in its holder against her back since it was not needed.
"I hope you aren't planning on going with us kid," Koga spoke, looking at Isamu, who came to a stop a few feet away from them, skidding & kicking up a little bit of dirt. "There is no way in Hell you're coming with us."
Catriona ignored Koga's words as she walked to her son & dropped to her knees infront of him, hugging him tightly. "Isamu, what are you doing traveling all this way alone to get to us?" She asked, half-demanding an answer. "Something could have happened on your way here. Does your father know?"
"He's aware I wanted to come," Isamu answered, putting his arms around his mom. "He just didn't know I left yet."
"Isamu, what you've done might cause a fight between your father & Koga," she spoke, pulling away to look her son in his dead eyes. "Did you think of that?" Her voice was soft, non-scolding.
"Father said I could leave when the sun reached the top of the sky, I did. I just didn't say goodbye."
"I'm sure he wanted you to..."
"I'm sorry mother..." He said as he lowered his head.
Catriona hugged him again, feeling him wrap his arms around her. "It's quite alright Isamu... I just wish I would have known you would be coming with us."
"He's not," Koga interrupted, putting his hand on his hips as his tail swayed behind him. "He would just be another mouth to feed during a hunt & I'm not up for it."
"I hunt on my own," Isamu spoke, looking at Koga, his showing an unspoken challenge. "You don't have to hunt for me, I will hunt for myself."
"Koga," Kagome started but had her mate's eyes turn to her with a silencing stare. This was something she had no right to speak up in because it had nothing to do with her.
"Catriona, the boy is not coming with us," Koga spoke, turning his attention to her. "I have to hunt for three mouths now as is & with the winter weather coming back to us there are few animals to hunt & when they are caught they fight for their lives."
"If you were hunting like a wild animal instead of a youkai, it would give it a chance to fight for its life," Isamu interjected, his eyes still locked on Koga's face. "If you fight as what you are, a youkai, then it gives the prey no chance to flee from you therefor you have an instant catch. It's quite easy for me & I'm a hanyou." His eyes mirrored a smirk that was showing on his mouth.
"You're bit cocky, aren't you?" Koga laughed at the young hanyou, moving closer & patting his head. "You've got spunk, but not enough for a hunt."
Isamu growled & slapped Koga's arm away from him, digging his claws into the ookami's flesh as the force pushed the limb away. "I have hunted plenty on my own," Isamu spoke, hunting pride glinting in his eyes. "I may be young, but I know what I'm doing."
Koga glared at the pup then looked at his arm where blood slowly dripping down his arm from four long scratches. "If you hunt for your own mouth then fine, you can come with us," he said with a growl as he put his back to the boy & his mother. "But if you can't hunt one night, then you won't get any of the food I bring back."
Kagome frowned, wanting to speak up in this, but she knew she had no right to. Koga was the Alpha of his pack & since she was in it, he was Alpha over her as well. It didn't help any that Isamu was Sesshomaru's kid & she knew her mate had a very strong dislike for the youkai lord of the Western Lands. She looked at Isamu & noticed that the hunting pride had gone from his eyes & now all that remained was a dead expression that gave her shivers. "Hey Isamu," she smiled.
Isamu looked at his Aunt Kagome. "Hi..." He sniffed the air when something caught his attention. "Are you sick? Your smell is different..."
Kagome blushed slightly. "I'm not sick Isamu," she answered. "I'm going to have pups from Koga."
"Oh..."
Kagome bit her lip slightly. "Isamu, is something wrong with you? You look unhappy."
"Nothing's wrong with me Kagome," he said, smiling at her, but with dead eyes. "I'm happy to be with my mom."