XVII

San: The Gift

I ride astride my brother, my eyes hidden with a half mask, its eye holes slit in a menacing manner. I grip my spear, my wolf pelt flying, ready for combat. But even now, I cannot keep Ashitaka out of my mind. Has he found the food I packed? Has he left the cave yet?

We rush up a hill covered in trees to see my mother, Moro, gazing out an opening in the forest. She watches the humans below, setting up battle equipment on large rocks. I leap off and push my mask back to the crown of my head.

The foliage is blanketed with an orange haze, coming from the red paper umbrellas stationed on the rocky cliffs in the valley. Humans mill about, preparing for battle. I cover my nose with the back of my hand, the stinging odor making me want to regurgitate my breakfast. "What a stench," I mutter.

"That's not just smoke," Moro informs me. "It's to blunt our sense of smell."

The familiar rage starts to bubble within me, and even more so when I catch the hateful sight of Eboshi, her bright red hat and the gun she carries. A stout human by her points to something, but she looks right at me and Moro, her white face bold.

"She knows we're here," I say darkly.

Beside me, Moro growls. "It's a foolish trap."

"A trap?" I look at her.

"They're trying to lure the boars out of the woods. They're planning something."

"We've got to warn them!" I say, concerned for the foreign lords. "They'll be killed!"

"Okkoto is no fool," Moro tells me. "The boars know it's a trap, but still they will charge. They are a proud race; the last one alive will still be charging forward."

Beneath the mountain, a huge bonfire produces smothering smoke, while the humans defile the woods. The trees fall with a distant boom.

"They're cutting trees, too," I mutter angrily.

"To anger them," Moro replies. I stick my spear into the dark mulch, and run to my mother's side, burrowing my face in her comforting white fur.

"Mother, this is farewell," I whisper, barely keeping the sob from my voice. "The smoke will blind Okkoto. I will be his eyes."

"As you will," she says calmly. "Although there is a life for you with that boy…"

Ashitaka. Moro is implying that he loves me. Does he really? And do I love him?

This hurricane of emotions confuses me. So instead I tell her fiercely, "I hate humans!"

My other wolf brother runs up the hill. We left him behind to guide Ashitaka and Yakkuru out of the forest. So they have gone. I feel an involuntary pang of disappointment. He will be out of my life for good now.

But I notice with surprise something hanging from my brother's mouth. It sparkles in the light. A small crystal knife, shining pale blue, wrapped in red thread. My brother pants a message from the boy.

"From Ashitaka? For me?" I take the small knife and hold it to my face. "It's beautiful," I breathe.

"You two go with San," Moro instructs my brothers. "I will stay with the Shishi-gami."

I rip the string apart with my teeth, and tie the dagger around my neck. "Let's go!" I yank the spear from the ground, leap onto my brother, and we take leave.

In the forest below, the thousands of boars are readying themselves for battle with the gun woman and the musketeers. Their brown bodies fill the valley, and their squeals resound in the summer morning. The boars smear grey mud on themselves, creating swirling circle patterns. With my mask back over my face, my brothers and I join the raging mountain lords.

"The tribe of Moro fights with you!" I announce to the boars. "Where is Okkoto?"

They squeal a response over the pounding of hooves, and I raise my spear in appreciation. "Thank you!" My brother carries me on to the point of battle.