"Tweet!? T-Take!? Wait, where are you running off to!?" the proclaimed 'Crybaby' Tai of the Sparrow Inn called after the large husky who was running down the path out of the Bamboo Forest. Ugh. How many times did he try to tell the child that he was not a pet? He didn't like being doted on. Without stopping Take just barked into the air as a farewell and continued down the path. He needed to speak with Princess Fuse, and he was confident enough to leave the Inn since Amaterasu recently destroyed Yami.

The Canine Warrior breathed in deep the smell of the bamboo and hot spring water as he bolted down the path. He was quite fond of this place. As he made his exit, he noticed a man pushing against the rock that blocked people of non-good hearts. 'Poor man, cleanse yourself of your foul whims and you'll be able to enter.' Take thought, but no matter, on to Kusa Village!

***

"Oh!" the woman jumped back in surprise as a large crow landed in her wheat fields. Kushi, she was called, the sake brewer of Kamiki Village, whom also was about nine months pregnant, and expecting any day.

"Um, excuse me little crow, your not a sign of an ill omen, are you?" she beckoned. The bird simply looked at her and "Caww!", Kushi jumped back again. She heard a bark from behind her whilst the crow scurried away. Kushi turned around once the bird was out of sight over the glorious waterfall the village was blessed to own.

"Oh thank you Hayabusa." the young woman said, scratching behind the kai-ken's ears. Hayabusa wagged his tail and moved back over where Mushi was relaxing. There wasn't much to protect, the world was a calmer, safer place now. The Canine Warrior could at least relive a pregnant woman from a bothersome foul. The dog of loyalty laid down by his friend, Mushi whom began to pet his dog. "I wish you could tell me your real name. Even though you're not the real Hayabusa, you saved my life, and I owe you one."

The dog lowered his head, oh how he wanted to tell his boy, the one he saved, "I am Canine Warrior Chu! Hayabusa entrusted me to protect you!" If only, if only. But nevertheless, Chu fulfilled Hayabusa's dying wish, and won over Mushi's upmost trust, along with being a near perfect hole-digger. He looked to the sky, it was still just before midday. Both boy and dog fell under a slumber beneath a tree.

As so did Susano, across the river.

***

"Hmmm... How odd." Hurehur-kap was watching from the thicket at a young boy with a rabbit skin upon his head fishing with a dog. The demon cocked his head to the side when the boy pulled out a large rare fish from the icy waters. "Woah, look Ume! It's an oarfish!" the child leapt for joy while the dog dubbed Ume wagged his tail and barked. Hurehur-kap could smell the two, despite the distance, and noted that they were from far away lands. A different forest, he concluded. Although, it was a faint lingering scent, a memory. He raised his bear-like hand and scratched his white haired head. He couldn't get his thoughts straight.

After Tumunci had left him to clean the remains of Kirurar, he wondered if his Master truly knew what he was doing. Hurehur-kap had buried Kirurar's body, and picked up all of Oki's arrows and placed them back in their case. He just hung them on a tree branch after that. Then he decided to go wandering through the forest. Hurehur-kap is rather timid for a demon, but he is also strong and an excellent fighter when he chooses to be. He still didn't fully believe that Tumunci, he, and some lowly monsters in the area could defeat the sun goddess, who killed Lord Yami, just like that. She was like a one wolf army, plus she had many believers now and those other gods. Was it even possible? The demon looked up and noticed the unusually marked dog looking back into the forest where he lay, then to his master, then back again- The dog stood up and looked straight his way. Ume curled up his lips and straightened out his tail. The fur on his back slowly rose.

***

"So Warrior Gi returns!" Ko bowed to Take. He had been waiting at the entrance of Kusa Village. "I've awaited your arrival! I felt an urgency in you, since our hearts beat as one." the old collie smiled at the brash and robust husky. Gi returned the warm welcome. "It's been so long, but I had duties to keep within the Sparrow Inn. However, I have come to have a talk with the Princess if you may, dear Ko." Ko nodded in return, but they both turned to a sound of soft paw pads. "Oh Chi, how nice of you to join us!" Ko barked to the lovely pink-coated chow dog, who bowed to her fellow lost warrior. "Welcome back Gi! It's so wonderful to see you! Oh, what a lovely scent about you, smells like how that Bamboo man does when he returns." Chi noted, sniffing the air around him. Gi wagged his tail. "Well come along then, let us reunited with the others and let Gi here report to the Princess." Ko beckoned, heading for the shrine.

The three dogs made their way up the hill and over the bamboo woven bridge. As they came up the steps, first Ko, then Chi, and Gi trailing behind he could help but get a solemn stare from the deeply battle scarred Canine Warrior, Tei. The husky bowed to the more experienced fighter, "Master Tei, am I to hear that you are doing well?" the dog asked, genuinely. Tei looked at him for a moment, he was a little angry, but knowing that a fellow warrior sometimes has his reasons he stated, "Yes, and I'm sure to hear the same of you?" Gi nodded.

"Oh Gi you've returned! Is something troubling you?" Princess Fuse exclaimed. Surly, don't think me mad, dogs and humans cannot indirectly talk, but there was a higher level of speaking. And the Princess had been with this hounds so long, and she needed to know what was on theirs minds and such, they could speak. And the Canine Warriors aren't your average lapdogs. Simple phrases passed through minds, a nod, body language, it was rather simple between them now. Gi nodded, but before they could get into formalities, Rei and Shin hadn't greeted the fresh bamboo-scented dog yet.

***

"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....." his hackles were on end, his normally curled tail raised straight up. "What's wrong Ume?" Kokari, former boy of Agate Forest asked his long time friend. Ume was staring off into the dark trees. The young fisherman placed his pole to the snow covered earth and stepped towards his dog. There was a great sense of evil close by, too close. Ume had to get Kokari away from here. Perhaps it would be safer over by the nearby Dojo, or up in that village? 'Dammit, at a time like this?' Ume turned to look at his boy, and barked to try to coax him to follow. Kokari nodded, and Ume raced off. He was headed for the village of Wep'keer. Despite that the villagers were odd, wearing funny masks and turning into wolves, Ume knew they were kind and could be trusted.

"Wait up, Ume!!" Kokari yelled. The fisherman was lagging behind, out of breath trying to keep up with his dog. Ume turned his head back to gaze upon him but kept running. 'Come on boy, I need to protect you!' Ume thought, he wanted Kokari to be safe, if he got too far behind- "Oof!" the dog ran into something while he wasn't paying attention. Kokari stood still a few feet away, a little shocked. Ume shook his head and slowly raised his vision from a pair of blue-black paws. Gazing into the red eyes of the still figure before him, a talking green ball of light on the wolf's head that sounded familiar spoke.

"Woah Ume, what'cha doing here?"