Hiruko's Return - 29.08.2009

[Hiruko Koudo]

Hiruko stumbled through the forest, wounds decaying on his back, neck and head and were now a few days old. The blood that had dried into his fur causing it to matt was now turning brown and Hiruko could barely walk as he was limping through the outskirts of the forest.
His crystal that hung around his neck was flickering slightly and Hiruko fell to the ground, his cheek resting against the grass. The cook soil soothed his face.
He could only think about his journey but even more importantly, his return home to where he belonged. It had been a long month. He felt he had neglected the Tribe so much but it was for their own good. Hiruko lay on the ground so relieved yet with little energy to spare thinking about it.

[Kiba Kurokage]

Shiro was making her patrols when she saw a flash of orange fur and went to investigate. She found a tiger laying in the dirt. "Are you ok?" She asked.

[Hiruko Koudo]

'I'm okay," he mumbled. "I've just been on a very long journey. Trust me, I'll be fine."

[Kiba Kurokage]

"Please. Let me help you." She said, and tried to help him up. She flashed over some water and a few cloths.

[Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo]

Mira had been at Skalakruh, gazing longingly at the empty crystal spot where Hiruko's crystal usually sat, when her own crystal glowed in alarm. She reached out to touch it, confused, and a quick scene flashed into her head. Hiruko, face down in the mud.

Fearing the worst, Mira ran as fast as she could to where the crystal had shown Hiruko was. There, she found Hiruko and Shiro. "Hiruko!" she cried, dashing to her lover's side. "Hiruko, are you okay?" Her eyes said what she didn't dare say. 'Please don't be dying.'

[Kiba Kurokage]

Shiro smirked. "I wouldn't worry. The cuts are superficial and the worst he's got is some dehydration and fatigue."

[Hiruko Koudo]

"I'm fine Mira,' he said smiling gently and touching Mira's face. "I've missed you so much." He sat up slowly and wrapped his arms around her, locking his long tail against her. "I'm so sorry Mira. I'm so sorry. I should've been here. But things have been happening which have driven me on an unbelieveable and strenuous journey. But I'm home now my baby, I'm home."

[Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo]

"I've missed you, too," replied Mira into Hiruko's fur, tears finally leaking from her eyes in relief, and falling onto Hiruko's orange strands. "What were you doing?" she asked, "Tell me everything. I need to know."

[Hiruko Koudo]

"Well, get yourself comfy because its a very long story," Hiruko said pointing to the ground beside him. "You too Shiro."
Hiruko sat in a comfortable position and began his story. "I left about a month ago on a search for Koatia to bring him down. Only expecting to find him and hopefully destroy him, unfortunately I found a lot more than I would have liked. But it all has purpose. I found Koatia. And I realise now his other purpose for following me to Tialka. He claims he came here to kill me and those I love for what I do in my earlier life but there was another story to it other than that.
"Koatia was on the search for something, a powerful force which this earth contains. Koatia found it but I retrieved it before he had a chance to take it. It was a black stone, a stone of shadow. I have named it the 'Kumorishi'. The stone was hidden deep in the earth. There were several traps and such to get to it. It seems that this earth didn't want just anyone stumbling across it. The Kumorishi seems to be the attraction of evil to those who get to it, it turns their hearts black over time. I only noticed this after carrying it around with me in an attempt to hide it from Koatia. I wasn't myself, I had urges to join Koatia and destroy my friends. I went mad for several days. After I learned what was happening to me, I had to get it to a safe location where Koatia could never take it. So I did. I went to the Tree of Life and hid it deep under the tree. Koatia cannot get to the Tree of Life so it suited well.
"But don't you see? This explains the meaning of Skalakruh! We all received our crystals because we are not only residents but PROTECTORS of this earth. It was meant to be. Our crystals are so linked to our feelings and the earth itself. That's why they react so much to our every emotion such as love, pain and sorrow. Unfortunately, Koatia just so happened to follow me because of our rivalry and he found out about the Kumorishi a while after he had settled here. That's also why he and Hayashi have never got their crystals. They weren't here to protect the earth. I don't know what the meaning of the Kumorishi is but I believe that this world was once lived upon millions of years ago. It must've been destroyed because there was nothing here, it was just dirt. The earth was like a vessel for the stone.
After I realised all this, I took care of scaring Koatia off and scattering him far off so as not to bother us until we were all emotionally ready. I came back knowing Tersias was close to giving birth and I didn't want to miss anything. Plus, I missed my home. It's been such a long journey but it's been worth every effort. I am just a bit battered up from trying to collect the stone in the first place and I haven't had time to wash or anything. I'm honestly fine though. I'm so glad to be home."

[Kiba Kurokage]

Shiro looked kinda shocked. "But wouldn't burying the stone make the tree on which it sits evil as well?"

[Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo]

Mira listened to Hiruko's story, and at the end of it, she nuzzled up against him, her purring resonating through both of their bodies. "I'm glad he didn't get ahold of it," she said into his fur, "for that would have been very bad indeed. But I'm more glad that you're back home, my love."

[Hiruko Koudo]

"No, its buried deep under the tree," Hiruko replied to Shiro's comment. "The tree of life is one of the purest living things on this planet. It was the first thing to be 'born' here. It cancels out the evil. That is why Koatia can go nowhere near the tree. Tersias's children will be the next new amazing things that has ever happened to this world. For they are the first children born and will be raised in Tialka. They are PURE." Hiruko hoped that his theories were right for the children. Their legacies would be legend on Tialka.
"Oh it's so good to be back and especially with you Mira," he said lovingly. He licked her continuously and gently on the forehead. Her scent was so nice to be near to again.

[Kiba Kurokage]

"So, none of us are pure?" She half joked to Hiruko. She sat back and listened for his answer.

[Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo]

"Your theory about the crystals does make sense, though," she said, purring. "When you arrived, wounded, my crystal reacted strongly, and showed me where you were." She licked his fluffy cheek. "Emotions are strong, and I believe the crystals' designs are related to them."

[Hiruko Koudo]

"I'm afraid not," Hiruko chuckled. "Each of us have some kind of darkness in our hearts, even as a god as I am. Take Hayashi for example. My brother was such a noble Torakan and he would have been a brilliant leader...but the darkness inside him lead him astray..."

[Kiba Kurokage]

Shiro sighed, Thinking of Kiba's time of the year. How destructive he got then. He was so nice and pure the rest of the time. It's as if the evil has condensed to that one time.

[Hiruko Koudo]

"Well I have been thinking it through a lot," Hiruko said to Mira. "It's like the earth is alive and alert to our feelings." He hugged Mira firmly yet gently. It was such a fantastic feeling to hold her once more in his arms. He could see what the feeling of absence had done to make his love for her grow stronger. He couldn't stand being apart.
"Well I'm going back to the den to get some rest," Hiruko told them. "Come with me Mira, I feel a bit weak and I'd love some company whilst I am there."

[Kiba Kurokage]

"I shall continue my patrol. Hopefully I am not too far behind." She smiled at the two. "I wouldn't want to miss anything because I was late."