Disclaimers: These fabulous characters do not belong to me. They belong to Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli, and Miramax films. Anyone I left out, sorry! The only characters that belong to me are any created characters that may pop up in the story, but there won't be many of them.

And now for a few notes. I know the story takes place in medieval Japan, but I'm not the best with names and things like that. So any liberties I take with locations, beliefs and names, they are not meant to reflect on that aspect, because I know very little about medieval Japan.

Also, I have given Moro's pups names, because I could not find any. If anyone knows their actual names please email me them, and I'll. . . I'll make you some free fanart. BUT ONLY IF THEY'RE REAL NAMES OF THE WOLVES! (Note: I believe Moro is the only one truly named)

Any lines in between those / things are the words of the animals, most commonly, the wolves.

With that out of the way, I hope you enjoy my story.

Also, I apologize with how long this chapter has taken. (I also apologize on how short it is. The next chapter will be a biggie!)

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Densetsu no Mori Ch. 6

'Searching'

The red elk bounded down the mountain slope with a sure-footed grace that only a beast that has grown up in the wilderness can know. Springing lightly from each craggy spot, which, to the human eye, looked to be too unstable to land upon, the elk spent too little time on the rock for the soil to even react. The masked rider felt like they were flying down the mountain, on the back of some furry god. Despite all that was going on, a muffled laugh found it's way from the figures mask.

Gods. If there were gods watching over the land and it's people, surely the travesties that had befallen the tribe would not be. They had always been emerged with nature; respectfully paying homage to deities they had never seen. Worshipping futilely in hopes that some prosperity would come to their people once again. Instead, years of being sheltered from the world outside had made the tribe grow weak, their numbers dwindled, and all chances of happy lives had been stolen from them.

All for worshipping absent gods.

Suddenly, the elk's feet skittered on the ground, causing her to lose footing for a split second, before lunging for a safer foothold. The rider reined in the mount for a moments rest, wide eyed beneath the mask. 'The wise woman would take that as a sign from the gods', their eyes crinkled in scorn as the thought came out. 'But the wise woman is an old fool. She, who would let the tribe die of starvation to respect fool deities from generations ago.' Eyes flared in anger and disgust, 'A woman who would banish the crown prince who saved us all from the plight of a demon.'

Glaring at the memory, the rider pressed heels into the elk's ribs, and it sprang on down the mountain. Soon they would be to the city. And soon, they could inquire where the prince had gone. If he could be found.

The rider's blue eyes welled with tears at the thought that the prince would never be found, that he had changed into the demon that consumed him. It couldn't be. He would be found, free of his curse, and he would come back to the tribe, who would undoubtedly welcome him with open arms.

And the wise woman, she would bow her head to the floor, and beg forgiveness for ever letting him leave.

Upon reaching the base of the mountain, the rider once again reined in the elk, guiding her to a stream that ran next to the mountain, Greedily the elk drank, as the rider dismounted, staring into the water. Half-heartedly, they rubbed at their tearful eyes with the hem of their haori jacket.

"It has to be. My brother will be found." The clearly feminine voice rang through the clearing, as Kaiya, princess of the tribe, dropped her mask to the ground, and drank from the water next to the elk.

TO BE CONTINUED>>>>>>>>>>