Kotori walked along the perimeter of the pack, protecting the area had become far more important.  It was damn crazy the number of wolves that had fallen to some insane disease leaving a number of them separated from others or just outright in no shape to work.  What determined if one was infected or not Kotori couldn’t begin to imagine.  Either way he wasn’t about to eat anything that had crystals or mushrooms growing out of it

His thoughts turned to Ikigai and how much smarter she was than he’d imagined.  Maybe princesses were taught to know things like spirits instead of fighting in ashen?  It still seemed strange she didn’t fight but she’d proved to be pretty dang smart.  He’d have to meet up with her again soon to see if she was alright.

Thinking of all the sick wolves he glanced at the wolf with him.  At first, Kotori had a hard time not grimacing when he saw the diseased wolves, actually, he still had a hard time but at least the dislike wasn’t quite as obvious as his first reaction.  The white wolf with orange markings and black splotches was already a sight but the sight was now morbid with the mushrooms.  With a sigh Kotori looked off ahead of them, scenting the night air.  

Amongst his thoughts, Kotori had almost missed the scent of a large cat.  The young wolf paused taking another scent and glancing about. “Smell that Hikaru?” Finding the scent he turned to follow it.  It was daytime but no one would guess with the dark sky and bright moon.  Poor cat, so good at camouflage normally but this time crystals growing on its head and in its ears were bright and gave it away.   Ugh, he didn’t particularly want to touch any of the infected including other predators.  Oh well.  He looked to his comrade, mouthing “Ready?”  How well could the guy fight like that anyway?

Word Count 322

Kotori Fatalis

 

Somehow even with half a face covered in mushrooms and feeling as though they might die, Hikaru made it back with Mortis to the armada. Some miracle had to have occurred. Haiku was feeling better now, even if he still had trouble with coughing sometimes and too much exertion had him in a fit. He was still functional enough. He still drug himself out of bed and followed along beside Kotori, Mort’s younger brother.

The koi hadn’t really met him before, he was just another of Mort’s numerous siblings. Some of which he still hadn’t even met yet, though he’d gotten a couple stories. The boy seemed like a good enough chap, though he couldn’t blame the wide berth he gave Hikaru. The mushrooms were certainly off putting to say the least. It was yet to be discovered if they were life threatening however. He was sure mushrooms growing in his lungs was incredibly unhealthy, and he wouldn’t have a very long life.

He thought too hard about the illness, instead he tried to focus on the mission at paw. He had to do as much as he could in the limited time he had left. He was going to go out swinging if this was the end of him. The pack would do on without him, and until then he would do his duties, patrolling with the boy at his side. Kaiyo couldn’t see or hear very well out of the one side of his face, but he could still smell just fine, so when the prince spoke up at least the koi could keep his pride in one sense.

Hika nodded solemnly, not trusting his volume control these days, and if Kotori wanted to ambush this thing being quiet was just the better option. Silver eyes searched for their target, finding the dark cat glowing with its own crystals. He felt pretty evenly matched with a creature like this. However confident he usually was Kaiyo would hang back slightly to allow for Kotori to take the lead. He was thus far completely healthy and at full capacity to fight. Hika would be his back up. The young man nodded softly in return, bending his joints and lowering himself into a ready stance.


"Speech"

374
696/1500
240

Kotori kept his voice hushed with just a quiet, “I’ll go right.” That said the boy made a wide route around the cougar assuming Hika would go to the left or any direction except to the right with him could work.  They could both attack from the same side technically but it didn’t make nearly as much sense as far as Kotori could see.

Kotori was at an advantage against many currently.  Whether it was other wolves, predators, or prey.  So many were sick and somehow he had been spared.  Kotori couldn’t even say it was some amazing ability of his, it was just as simple as luck in this area.  How sick was this cougar?  How hard could it still fight?  Kotori grimaced at the idea of having to bite the infected cat but there weren’t many choices.  

He’d wait for Hika to get in a good position before rushing towards the cougar’s front shoulder, showing off his teeth and noticing that there was small signs of a crystal in his ear on that side and at least one of the nostrils.  Yuck.  The cougar spun to face him and swiped out with claws extended with one large paw.  Kotori shifted his weight back to not get clobbered by the paw, grinning at the large cat, snapping for its shoulder and again missing but he wasn’t trying hard.  He just wanted the cougar’s attention on him instead of Hika.

"Kotori Fatalis"

The other boy was quiet, but thankfully he was in Hika’s good ear. He would go to the right. Surrounding was a good idea and Hika would do his best to try and square off their opponent and keep it from fleeing as the two wolves closed in on it. Like anything it was just trying to survive as the world went to shit. The Armada and their pack were far more important than a needy predator slinking too close to the pack borders.

Hikaru sidled to the left, trying to keep his eye on the mountain lion as well as Kotori. A difficult task when he barely had the use of one of his eyes. Still, the young koi moved onwards. Through the foliage as he tried to disguise his own mushrooms with the bright glowing crystals and mushrooms of the forest.

He did a better job than he was expecting, and it kind of seemed like his partner felt like that too as they both fell in line with the feline. Hikaru got into a good spot and then Kotori moved, bringing the lion’s full attention onto him. Hikaru chanced getting a little closer as Kotori succeeded in his goal. The mountain lion was fixated on him, and coming in hot. It swiped and advanced, but Kotori was skilled. The other boy dodged the hits and that was when Hikaru came barging in.

The koi aimed to ram his shoulder against the cat, careful to keep his mushrooms well out of reach as his attack fully disrupted the lion. Now he could really see the way the crystals affected it and Hika just crossed his paws that his own wouldn’t get any worse.


"Speech"

285
1221/1500

Something that hurt the cat was more demanding of attention than a perceived threat that hadn’t connected.  The cougar spun its head around, mouth wide as it bunched its muscles to spring at Hikaru.  Kotori had been waiting for an opening and he grinned.   Kotori wasn’t as large as dad and his older brothers but he was still a good size and had some height.  He lunged forward, head lowered, and slammed his head towards the shoulder, one of his horns jabbing into the thick muscle.  Kotori jerked his head swiftly to leave a nice gash.

Kotori had planned to jump back right away and most certainly that had gotten the cat's attention.  The cougar was trapped between them and instead of attacking either had taken a few steps back its ears flat and showing off its own impressive fangs.  Kotori imagined it might be even nastier if it didn’t have the sickness.  Perhaps it was slower due to the sickness, perhaps Kotori and Hikaru were just working well in timing their attacks.  As long as they won then he didn’t care the reason.  They could chase it off but all the better if they killed it.

Hikaru ramming into it had been great, it's what had given Kotori the idea to use horns instead of teeth.  The boy would prefer not to bite the predator if at all possible.  He had no desire to see if its blood could spread the sickness.

Total Word Count:  1466

"Kotori Fatalis"

Hika quickly realized that he was to be the one to make the final blow. He didn’t blame Kotori for keeping his distance, he had yet to be infected and who knew what might actually cause this affliction. Silver eyes were held tight on the cat as it looked back and forth from the koi to the Fatalis boy. Hika couldn’t see super well, but they were close enough that when he leapt at the cat it didn’t make any difference. Kaiyo coiled his limbs and sprung at the cat, wrapping his teeth around its throat and delivering a killing blow. Putting it out of its and their misery.

109
1500/1500


"Speech"