Hiei's Harem: - Pt. 5 - Searching

I guess I'm a little bored just sitting around here waiting for the funeral. All the family's not in yet, so I'll go ahead and give you another scene. Thanks for the well-wishes. I'm holding up as best as can be expected.

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Scene 8 ------------- The Mouth Of The Canyon


* A pair of Snake demon brothers approach Lily's barrier. They've caught the scents of all the pregnant demons beyond these bushes. The two guys smirk at each other and prepare to go through them until one of them detects the Kitsune's energy. He grabs his younger brother, shakes his head, then looks around as his long, skinny tongue lashes out a few times. With a gruff hiss the elder brother motions for the younger to follow him. When they come to the river they exchange confident smirks, then keep their energy suppressed as much as possible as they sink to the ground. When both are in their full demon forms, two very large, black, constrictor-type Snakes, they glance at each other then slither into the river. The pair slips upstream stealthily. When a movement catches their eyes they swim into an area shaded by a large willow tree. They lift their heads, undetected, to watch Klarice filling up a water bucket. The older brother looks at the younger and informs him, telepathically in their slithery language, to take this one while he goes further upriver to find more. When the younger Snake nods eagerly they both submerge again. The younger Snake watches his brother slip away and disappear quickly in the deep, dark water. He then turns his full attention toward the shore. Klarice begins to fill the second bucket and glances around when she feels a strange presence tingle her strengthening senses. Since she doesn't notice the shadow slipping toward her in the shade of the large willow, she lifts the bucket quickly, retrieves the first and turns to hurry back to the main camp. She hears the water churn violently behind her. The Ice hybrid spins in time to see the Snake demon rear himself up out of the water. Klarice stumbles and falls backward when he gives a loud hiss. Just as the Snake lunges toward her Klarice screams and instiinctually raises both of her hands. Up in the Waterfall Meadow, Hiei and Sarista both hear Klarice scream. The Koorime leaps to his feet.


Hiei- Return to the main cave!


* In a blur Hiei disappears. Sarista starts toward the woods. Just as she reaches the woodline Troiyoku appears beside her as Minoro leaps on past. Sarista turns to see that Minoro has managed to head off the older Snake demon who was slithering toward her.


Sarista- Minoro!

* Minoro uses his speed and agility to repeatedly avoid the now-coiled, striking snake. Lily appears beside Sarista. The black vixen glances at her Alpha Mistress.


Lily- Are you okay?

Troiyoku- We heard Aunt Klarice scream.

Sarista- I'm fine. Hiei went to help her.

Lily- Then we need to take care of this one before D'Tara loses another son.

Sarista- Right!


* Before Sarista can stop him, though, Troi blurs over to join Minoro. His arrival focuses the Snake demon's full attention on him. Troiyoku summons his energy into his right fist as he's been trained. When the demon lunges he delivers a straight punch right into the Snake's nose. The force sends him rearing back and gives Minoro the opportunity to get ahold of the demon. This turns out to be a big mistake as the Snake reacts by starting to coil his body around the Hyena. Like a flash Lily springs to the Snake's left and calls out her vine whip. Troi delivers a second punch that snaps the Snake's head into the air again. He loses his concentration on the body he was coiling around when Lily's vine catches him around his throat. Troiyoku helps Minoro crawl away from the Snake, gasping for air. The Snake decides he's had enough and turns to try to escape back into the water, but Lily sets her feet and uses as much strength as she can muster to prevent his escape.


Lily- Now, Mistress! Light him up!!


* Sarista blinks closer, just managing to side step Minoro. The Snake had whipped his tail around to send the large male flying. Sarista ducks the coiling body as she thrusts both of her hands toward him. Suddenly the Snake is engulfed in black flames. Troiyoku ducks the thrashing Snake to retrieve his mother and get her back to safety.


Troiyoku- Are you okay?

Sarista- Hai.. Go help Lily to keep that thing from getting back into the water!


* Troi nods and flashes over to Lily. In the next instant they are joined by Gamaru. As they successfully keep the dying, writhing Snake from getting back into the water Sarista motions for Trinka to join her as she hurries to where Minoro had landed against a tree. In one of his last struggles the Snake gives a shrill cry and lashes his tail toward his three restrainers. With a sudden burst of energy Gamaru lifts one of his hands from the vine and puts up an energy shield. The shield manages to deflect the intruder's blow. Hiei returns carrying Klarice and Trinka hurries to them.


(#) Trinka- Aunt Klarice!

Hiei- D---, there were two of them!?


* Trinka glances up in time to watch Hiei blink over to behead the dying Snake. A couple moments later all that's left is silence and a heap of burning black flames. Hiei reaches out his hand and pulls them into himself. After a couple seconds to adjust the balance of energy inside himself, Hiei turns to yank his bandana off. A quick scan tells him that there are no more invaders. Trinka looks back down at Klarice.


(#) Trinka- Are you injured, Aunt Klarice?

Klarice- No, I'm fine.


* Hiei comes over.


Hiei- Hn. She froze the other Snake in his tracks.. I just had to dispatch it.. There are no others, though.

Sarista- They came in through that d--- river!

Troiyoku- Aunt Lily!


* Hiei turns and blinks over to where the Kitsune has collapsed.


Hiei- Fox?


* Lily manages to sit up.


Lily- I'm.. okay..

Hiei- You exerted yourself!


* She glances pensively up at him.


Lily- Could.. not be.. helped.


* Sarista comes over to begin checking her as she lowers her eyes under Hiei's intense gaze.


Sarista- You did good, Sister.. Relax now.


* Hiei looks toward Minoro as he collects himself. D'Tara is now embracing her unconscious son.


Hiei- Minoro?

Sarista- He'll be okay. He just got knocked out.

Hiei- Hn. Everyone handled this situation well!


* Hiei looks next toward Gamaru who is leaning on his knees heaving. The Fire hybrid meets his gaze briefly.


Hiei- I knew you were worth keeping around, boy.


* Hiei cuffs him gently.


Hiei- Alright, everyone back to the main cave so we can rest!


* The pack gathers up their weary and injured to head back toward the main cave. Hiei turns away to look toward the blackened patch of earth where the Snake met his end. He feels his chest clench and his stomach flip as he realizes what could have happened here. Trinka notices him and goes back over beside him. Hiei felt her approach and gives no reaction when she touches his unwarded arm.


(#) Trinka- Indeed, it could have been a real disaster..

Hiei- Hn.. I could have lost..

(#) Trinka- But you didn't.. And we all have you to thank, Master.


* Now Hiei hesitantly looks down at his petite, mute female.


(#) Trinka- You've taught us to be strong.. To defend ourselves.

Hiei- I couldn't have been in both places.. I left your Mother vulnerable..

(#) Trinka- You're only one person. We don't expect you to be perfect.. all the time.


* Hiei sighs when she embraces him. Her giggle fills his mind.


(#) Trinka- But we all love you anyway.

Hiei- Love.. Feh! It's only your.. instincts that make you all crazy like this.


* Trinka looks up at him and he jerks his head toward the treeline where the others disappeared.


Hiei- Let's get back to camp, Trinnie.


* He taps her rear making her jump, then resists the urge to chase after her as she hurries off. The Koorime shakes his head and makes his way calmly back to the main cave. When he enters he stops to glance around. He takes note that Gamaru and Silis are missing, uses his jagan briefly to locate them on the lookout, then moves first to check Minoro. D'Tara glances up at him.


D'Tara- He'll be okay, M'Lord.

Hiei- Hn. He's a tough boy, 'Tara.


* He lays his hand on her head a moment, then moves next to Klarice. She is just accepting a cup of springwater from Staci. Hiei sinks to one knee beside her and places a hand on her shoulder. She gives him a weary smile.


Klarice- I am fine.. I just hate Snakes.

Hiei- You handled that one well enough. All I had to do was dice him up.

Klarice- I just.. reacted.


* Hiei nods.


Hiei- You did good, 'Rice. Rest now.


* Klarice nods. Hiei stands and turns toward Lily next. As he approaches he sees that she is now unconscious. Sarista glances up to watch him move over Lily carefully, to lay on her other side between her and the cool cave wall.


Hiei- 'Rista,..?

Sarista- (Quietly) Another of her kits has weakened.


* Hiei looks up at her, but guards the panic that tightens his chest momentarily. He looks back down at Lily and strokes her pale cheek, swiping away some strands of her silky black hair.


Hiei- Do what you can, Sarista.. That's all I ask.

Sarista- Give them some of your energy. Maybe that will help.


* Hiei half glances up at her, then closes his eyes as he moves his hand down to lay on her rounded belly. Trinka comes over to join them.


(#) Trinka- Maybe if we combine our energy, Mother.


* Sarista nods.


Sarista- Won't hurt to try.


* Hiei opens his eyes a moment to watch them work. Then he feels the familiar, slight sensation of his own energy being consumed by something inside the Kitsune. He furrows his brow as he closes his eyes again. Careful to keep his thoughts shielded from Sarista and Trinka, he begins to wonder if perhaps this could be some kind of a parasite inside of his mate. The next instant his stomach lurches, almost audibly causing him to swallow the lump that forms in his throat. Sarista glances at him.


Sarista- (Quietly) We're not going to lose her, Hiei.


* Hiei nods and feels himself lowering down to snuggle his Kitsune. He's now so drained that he only barely recognizes when Trinka moves his hand away from Lily's belly. He slips out into hibernation cursing himself for such a hideous thought.