The morning was cold and bright, fall was quickly coming upon us and soon enough the wolf demon caves would be alight with fires all night most nights. I made my way over to the stream and quickly shed my kimono. With the morning as cold as it is I was going to make my bath quick. I jumped in the shallow water and I was quickly shivering. Taking my sponge and bar of soap I scrubbed myself and then my hair. It felt good to be clean. I rinsed and climbed out, drying myself off and as quickly as I could sliding on a clean kimono.

I tied it off in the back and pulled my hair into a bun. Much better. I grabbed the basket of laundry I brought out with me and began to wash the kimonos and furs. The sun was fully above the horizon now and the wolves were becoming more active. I saw some of the men heading out towards either hunting or guard duty. Some of the women made their way out and began to wash with me, the children following behind them and running around playing their games. It took me about an hour but I had all of the things washed and laying on the rocks nearby to dry out. I said my goodbyes to my companions and headed inside. I made my way behind the waterfall and into the living area.

The scent of spiced meat met my nose and my stomach grumbled.

"Kagome!" A younger female wolf called me over from the fire where she was cooking, I made my way to her.

"Yes Ari?" She sighed.

"Would you mind testing this for me? Some of the men said I didn't have it done right last time. I just want to make sure I don't upset them again." Ari is a young wolf with long orange hair, she is probably around 17 and is betrothed to one of the wolf warriors. She will make a good wife and mate she just needs a bit more confidence in herself.

"Sure." I took a piece of the meat she had frying in the pan and began blowing on it to cool it off. It smelled delicious. I finally deemed it cool enough to eat and took a bite. Ari sat there look at me anxiously, I honestly think she thought I would find it gross. I finished chewing, swallowed and smiled to her. "That is delicious! What spices did you use?"

"some of this and that." She smiled slightly as she gestured to some different spices on a shelf. "I have been trying out some new combinations to try and find something they would like." She motioned to the remaining male wolves waiting around for breakfast.

"i think it will be a hit! Great job Ari!" Her face broke into a huge grin and she thanked me as I walked off toward my small den.

I continued to munch on the slice of meat as I got there I saw my den just as I left it. What was considered the size of a bathroom in my era was considered a whole living room in this one. So my den had a small pallet of hay covered with a huge bear fur. The other wall had a small table I used as a desk and next to it was a chest of drawers. I have collected a few different herbs and spices and I have them drying on top of the table. I finished off my breakfast and went to adjust my herbs. Changing out the ones that are dry and ready to be crushed and preserved. I went to the drawers and got out some of the small glass jars, I put the finished herbs into jars and sealed them up tight. All together I had been in my den for about 2 hours.

I made my way back out past my curtain and out into the main den. The men from the night watch were returning, Hakkaku and Ginta were among them.

"Sister Kagome!" They shouted in unison, and ran towards me.

"Hello and good morning to you two." I gave them a sweet smile. "How was the night watch?"

Hakkaku answered first, "Uneventful, but-" Ginta cut him off. "We managed to snag a deer and 2 boar!"

"Well that is excellent news! Make sure you gut it and then bring it inside to have the ladies finish cleaning it. You know what happens when you bring it inside without it being partially cleaned."

They both laughed and started recounting tales of the women nearly revolting at them leaving all the work for them to do. They continued telling stories as they and 2 other men went out the waterfall, all of them laughing and comparing stories.

Some of the older children came running up to me, "kagome! What are we to do today?"

I had decided to teach some of them, mostly the ones who wanted to learn, the purposes of some of the herbs. The wolf demon children also got bored with it very quickly, so I set aside certain things that would not possibly put them in danger and those were their chores.

"Well, Doran and Tekka should head out for water. The water reserves are dangerously low and we need them to be replenished for the celebration. Kari, Doua and Rena should refill the firewood stores. The celebration is tomorrow and we need to make sure that there is plenty of wood for bonfires and it is getting colder of a night so we will need extra wood. Doran and Tekka once the water is filled I need to you to being in firewood as well. Make sure each den has a pile as well as plenty for the main den. Can you do that?"

I got a round of "yeah's" and "uh huh!"and off they ran. Ami was beginning to gather up the dishes from breakfast and another female wolf Senna came in to begin the lunch preparation. I gave Senna a smile.

"Senna, do you need help preparing the feast for tomorrow? I can help with it or I can help with more laundry so other ladies can help. Take your choice, I promise I wont be offended."

"Well Kagome, I wouldn't mind your help but are you sure you can spare the time? With all of the other things that need to be arranged I am sure your time can be better spent elsewhere." She took a moment and removed a very large bone from a chunk of meat she was handling. "I just dont want to promise of help when you will undoubtedly be pulled away often." She smiled as she wiped the sweat from her brow with her wrist. "I don't mean to offend, my lady."

"No offense taken Senna, I promise. I asked for honesty because that is what I wanted. I will send some other women to help cook and I will take on extra laundry. If I get pulled away from laundry it isn't the end of the world."

Senna smiled and returned to her work. I made my way outside and saw Hakkaku and Ginta finishing up the gutting of the deer, all of them still laughing and joking. The small pond and stream was pretty well vacant now where it had been nearly surrounded with the women this morning. I grabbed my laundry and folded it as I placed it inside the basket. Once everything was neatly folded I placed the basket on my hip and went back inside. I hurried over to my den and placed my things in the chest where they belonged. I took Kouga's furs out seperately and placed them in the basket just outside of his den. His den wasn't more than 5o feet from mine, but even being so close I had never set foot inside of his and he never inside mine. With everything being shared in the pack it was important to me to have what little privacy I could have. Everyone seemed to understand my want for privacy and I never had any problems with intrusion.

The activities of the day started to wear on me, I yawned loudly. I made my way to my den to lay down. The bear skin on my bed was soft, warm, and inviting. I closed my eyes for a moment and apparently fell asleep.

My sleep was short lived though.

"Kagome!" I was startled out of my slumber by someone screaming my name. I ran out into the main den. "Kagome!"

Marik, Ari's betrothed, was sitting on the floor holding Rena and she wasn't moving.

"what happened?" I made my way quickly to them and examined her.

"She was climbing a tree to get loose limbs for firewood. A branch gave way under her and she fell. No one could get to her fast enough."

She has a large gash on her forehead and her arm is at an odd angle beside her. Most likely the arm was broken, but her head was the pressing concern. I could see her skull underneath, it was deep and bleeding all the time. Marik was slowing chanting to himself with her head in his lap.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Please wake little one."

"Marik calm down you are stressing me out. Ari get me my medical kit from the supply room." She needed stitches. That much I knew, but I wouldn't be able to concentrate with the whole pack standing around watching.

"I need a small but thick stick. It needs to be straight, and it needs to be as long as her arm. I also need a clean cloth that I can use to hold the stick in place. I need another cloth to wrap her head up with. Long, clean, and able to be tied off. Can you do that?"

The group gathered all gave into.

"Yes", "of course", "right away!" The crowd dissipated into different directions. Ari cut through the people rushing about and made it to me with my backpack. I no longer carried food in my bag, the limited space was saved for any and all medical supplies I had left from my era. I threw open the bag and dug for a needle and thread. I also grabbed an herb that I knew could be used to help with pain and if we were lucky would numb her head a bit. I spread the concoction evenly over the gash.

Rena lay motionless through all my menstrations. I was worried, she should have at least stirred.

"Marik, Ari I need you two to hold her. I was hoping she would have come around but she hasn't. This will most likely bring her around but she will be brought out by pain. I don't want her to struggle and get hurt more." They both nodded in agreement and took a place holding her. Ari took ahold of her shoulders and held her still, Marik put his palms on either side of her head and kept her still. "alright here we go."

I had never done stitches before, and I hoped what I did would hold. I could sense Marik and Ari's fear as I continued stitching and she never moved or reacted. I finished with a total of 15 stitches. The people slowly returned with what I asked for and I braced her arm. I didn't feel anything horribly wrong with it, if it was broken it would hopefully set on it's own. I wrapped her head with the other bandage and tied it off tight.

"That's all I can do for now." Marik and Ari released a sigh of relief. "Please take her somewhere to rest Marik."

"Where lady Kagome?" That was a good question. Where? The den didn't have an infirmary and placing her with all the other children where she normally slept she wouldn't be able to rest.

"Marik." Ari spoke up, I glanced at her and noticed she was red from head to toe. "We could place her in my den. I haven't been in it most nights here recently anyway." Her voice got very quiet on the last few words and if there had been any others there watchig I doubt she would have said it. I glanced over to Marik and saw he was looking down at Rena and had a slight blush on his cheeks.

"Yes miss Ari." He gently picked her up in his arms, bridal style and carried her off down a side passage.

"Congratulations Ari. He is a good man, he won't lead you astray." Ari blushed even brighter if that was possible.

"Thank you Kagome. I know he is good and there is no reason to worry Kouga nothing has happened between us! Strictly talking and warmth, it has been so cold these past few nights."

"I'm glad, even though I am not certain that Kouga would mind. He knows you two care for each other deeply." I smiled and got to my feet. My legs were numb from crouching so long.

"I sometimes forget you don't know the mating rituals of wolves. It is important that the newly mated wolves are pure and untouched. Otherwise the gods may refuse our bonding and that is a horrible dishonor." She stood and attempted to regain her balance right along side me.

"I don't doubt you Ari. You are both very honorable and I know you would never disappoint Kouga." Ari and Marik have both been so nice to me, I hope their marriage goes off without a hitch. My stomach grumbled and Ari laughed.

"Time for lunch Kagome?" I nodded yes to her and we moved over to a table near where Senna was finishing lunch. Most of the den was still empty, I would assume they are still outside waiting to see if it is sure safe to enter. "I'll go let everyone know it is ok to enter." She stood and left for the exit. I sat there in the chair and stared at my hands.

My hands were covered in blood, Rena's blood. I had sent her out there for firewood, I was directly responsible for her getting hurt. Maybe if I had decided to do an herbal lesson then she would still be up and running around with her friends. She didn't move the entire time I stitched her up, was she already lost? Had I failed her? Rena, I am so sorry.

"Kagome?" The voice was soft but I knew it.

"Imari." I slowly looked up into her eyes, she was crouched next to me her eyes searching my face.

"Is she-" She released a sob and lowered her head into her hands. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed into her hands. I placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Imari, I'm sorry." She sobbed louder. The room was deathly silent. "Imari I tried." I slid off of the chair and down beside her. I extended my arms and wrapped her in a hug. "She fell from a tree." I whispered in her ear, my kimono quickly becoming soaked with her tears and my own. "Her head was bleeding from a large cut and her arm hung limp." I choked on a sob and she whimpered into my shoulder. "I tried to help her but she isn't moving. She didn't move the entire time I worked on her. Imari I am so sorry."

Imari pulled back from my embrace but I kept my head down. She grasped my hands and I felt her stiffen. My hands, she was looking at my hands, they were still red with her daughters blood. Tears rolled down my cheeks and fell onto my lap. She spoke then, so quiet I wasn't sure I actually heard her.

"Is she still alive?" I nodded. I heard her gasp and I thought myself mistaken at what else I heard. I heard a laugh. I looked up and into her eyes she had them closed and her head raised toward the sky. Her hands were clasped in front of her as if in a silent prayer.

She sat there a few minutes, not moving until suddenly she opened her eyes and looked me dead in the eye. She clasped my hand, and smiled.

"Kagome you have nothing to apologize for. If my daughter still breathes then I thank the gods you are here. If you were not here she surely would have perished." She looked at me with joy and hope in her eyes. "The way they spoke to me and they way you spoke I thought-" she took a moment to compose herself before she began to cry again. "I thought I would never see her breathe again."

"Imari, I cannot say that she will awaken. She has been asleep for some time. I don't wish to give false hope."

"I will not give up on my daughter. You have given her a chance, and with a chance she can fight. She is a demon, a member of the wolf demon tribe, she will live. Thank you Kagome." She stood and kissed my forehead as Marik lead her down toward where her daughter was resting. I saw feet approach me but I did not look up to see who it was.

She gently braced my arms and helped me up and into my den, "May I enter Kagome?" I nodded, tears continued to flow down my cheeks and I found myself unable to make myself stop crying. She helped me past the curtain and onto my bed. She removed my outer kimono, so that all I had on was a thin white gown. She used my soaked kimono to clean off my hands, and helped me to lay down and covered me with my furs.

My exhaustion got the better of me and I fell into a restless sleep.

please no hate, just running with an idea I had. I have more typed and ready just give me a Review if you are interested in more! Thanks!