Kuzunoha’s Healing Cavern

The large white fox stood tall before the sisters, promising to do her best to heal their mother, though she could make no guarantees. Hoshiyo turned to the others and said, "The other Kami aren't in life-threatening conditions, so I entrust you with bringing them here for Kuzunoha to heal."

Without hesitation, Ceres nodded and quickly followed Motoko and Rokoku outside the cavern. They separated from the group and returned to the forest to retrieve the wounded Kami.

Kuzunoha lay her head on the black wolf's chest, feeling the crackling of her lungs with each breath. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "Her wounds are severe. It would take a miracle to save her."

Rei said, "I did everything I could to monitor her vitals. She didn't deteriorate this much until we arrived on land."

"What can we do to save her?" Hoshiyo asked.

"For now, I need all of you to leave, but Rei can stay," Kuzunoha said. "You seem to have some medical knowledge, and I'd like your assistance."

Rei's face lit up, and she blushed at the thought of being needed for her skills. "I'd be honored, Kuzunoha. I won't let you down."

Hoshiyo frowned and asked, "What should we do in the meantime? I can't just sit here begging the universe not to take her away from us. I don't know what to do. What do I do?"

Kuzunoha sat beside the black wolf and replied, "There is nothing you can do for her now, Hoshiyo. If she dies, you will have to learn to live with that for the rest of your life. She lives within you now."

Hoshiyo staggered back, her jaw dropping and eyes wide. She nearly stepped on her sister's toes, struggling to breathe as her stomach twisted and her heart raced.

"I searched for her all that time, only to lose her again," Hoshiyo whimpered.

Takeko gently grasped her forearm and said, "Come on, let them work. We all feel the same way you do."

"Yeah, I know. I'm fine," Hoshiyo argued, pushing Takeko away as she left the cave. Her face was flushed red with frustration. She had invested so much time and effort into finding her mother, only to face the possibility of losing her again.

Feeling the warm sun on her face and the first raindrops, Hoshiyo dropped to her knees and cried. The drizzle quickly became a downpour, soaking her hair and mixing with the dirt at her feet. She whispered, "I worked so hard only to lose it all in a heartbeat."

The remaining sisters stepped outside and watched Hoshiyo suffer. No one knew how to console her better than Rei, so they stayed back, giving her space. Takeko rubbed her watery eyes, trying not to cry. Seiko and Yoko held each other for comfort, understanding her agony. They had traveled far and endured much, nearly breaking their hearts.

Utaku stood alone, emotionless, leaving the others unsure of her thoughts. The sisters debated whether to approach her.

Seiko whispered, "She'll be fine, right?"

Yoko nodded but didn't reply, not wanting to cling to false hope.

The sisters sat in silence for hours, waiting anxiously for any news. Trusting Kuzunoha in their mother's life was difficult, but she was renowned as a healer. They had no other choice. Hoshiyo pondered Kuzunoha's past, imagining it was far from a fairy tale.

Hoshiyo stared at the gravel beneath her feet, watching a trim carpenter ant dragging a dead, dried-up worm. The little creature worked tirelessly to bring its feast home. As she wiped tears from her face, a droplet of blood landed on her foot. The ant got caught in the blood, spinning in circles before it died, leaving the worm behind.

Looking up, Hoshiyo saw a glittering white paw before her, followed by the flowing red robes and white fur of Kami Amaterasu. She stood there, coated in red, with a serene smile.

"You are so much like your mother," Amaterasu whispered.

"My mother is dying," Hoshiyo said.

Amaterasu shook her head gently. "No, she won't die. I promise you that."

"What do you mean?" Hoshiyo asked.

"A Kami cannot die, Hoshiyo. Only our physical forms are laid to rest for eternity," Amaterasu explained.

"Who will she transform into?" Hoshiyo asked.

Amaterasu chuckled softly. "Honestly, I have no idea. Hundreds of years ago, I was once a human, but the future is always uncertain."

Hoshiyo looked down, her voice trembling. "That must have been scary, dying alone."

"Lift your head, Hoshiyo. We are never alone," Amaterasu said.

Hoshiyo raised her head and widened her eyes at seeing nine mighty wolves adorned in floating devices and robes before her. Intimidated by their strong presence, she bowed respectfully and stood tall, feeling a sense of belonging.

Behind the Kami stood her siblings, brightly smiling after successfully gathering the Kami in such a short time. Ceres crossed her arms and said, "We spotted them in the Land of the Sun. They came here of their own free will to check on our mother."

Hoshiyo nodded and said, "You're all injured. Please seek treatment inside the cavern."

Amaterasu, ignoring the suggestion, asked, "You found the Yokai healer? She travels across all the islands, so she's tricky to locate, especially when you were supposed to ascend the mountain."

Hoshiyo felt a pang of fear at the possible consequences of this conversation. She had disobeyed a direct order to save her mother. A bead of sweat trickled down her forehead. Steeling herself, she replied, "We have Yokai friends in the swamp who were willing to help us in return for our services to them."

Amaterasu's eyes widened. "You helped them? Surprisingly, the Yokai would seek a human's help in such a fragile time."

"They've heard of a legend where a Kami created nine warriors who saved the world. We fit the legend, which led them to trust us more than other humans," Hoshiyo explained.

Amaterasu frowned and whispered, "Be careful whom you trust. Many seek to kill anyone who fits that description. Not everyone shares your vision of restoring life to Japan. You could inadvertently start a war and bring death upon those you love."

"I appreciate your concern," Hoshiyo responded, "but with the help of our closest allies, we've formed a strong bond with a community that will fight alongside us. We won't be alone."

Standing up to a Kami was risky, but it earned Hoshiyo respect. Amaterasu smirked at her bravery. "Maybe I was wrong about the nine of you. The outcome might have differed if we had brought you to the fight against Yamato-no-Orochi. Saving her wolf form was wise; she can help teach you to fight properly."

Amaterasu then walked into the cavern, glancing at the swords at Hoshiyo's hip. The other Kami followed her, leaving Hoshiyo and her sisters standing outside.

The eight sisters gathered outside the cavern, quietly waiting. They surrounded Hoshiyo, expecting her to say something. Hours they were passed in silence before anyone spoke.

Ceres finally broke the quiet, crossing her arms and chuckling. "Honestly, I thought Amaterasu would rip your head off."

Motoko gently nudged Ceres. "Hey, don't say that. She was fearless, just as a leader should be. Hoshiyo did what she believed was right. Our mother would have passed on to a new body otherwise."

"She could have transformed into a butterfly for all we knew," Hoshiyo added with a wry smile.

"You got lucky today. Don't get cocky," Ceres retorted.

Hoshiyo smirked. "I don't make promises I can't keep."

Ceres clenched her teeth, frustrated but knowing it wasn't wise to challenge Hoshiyo. After a moment, she backed away and took a deep breath.

Hoshiyo sighed. "I'm sorry you feel differently, but Motoko was right. I stand by my decision, and I'd do it again. Our mother has much to teach us in her wolf form. She's been a Kami for sixty years."

Ceres glanced at the cavern entrance. "We'd be better off learning from other Kami who have survived longer."

"You're not wrong; the others seem more powerful," Hoshiyo admitted.

Suddenly, the dirt and gravel shifted behind Hoshiyo. She turned to see Fumi standing before her, smiling. In her hand, she held a blood-covered handkerchief with something inside. She uncovered it to reveal a large, sharp tooth.

Fumi handed the tooth to Hoshiyo. "We found this inside your mother. It belonged to Yamato-no-Orochi. Keep it; you might find it useful someday."

"Are you sure, Fumi?" Hoshiyo asked, examining the tooth's smooth exterior. "What could I possibly use this for?"

Fumi nodded. "You'll know when the time comes. Your mother is stable now, so spend some time with her."

"Thank you," Hoshiyo said.

She didn't hesitate to run inside the dim lake cavern, her footsteps echoing through the cave. The others followed, surrounding their weak mother. The other Kami watched closely from their positions on large rocks as the black wolf lay on a bed of tatami mats, covered in white bandages and cringing with pain.

"Mother," Hoshiyo whispered, "Are you okay? Sorry, that was a stupid question."

Rei knelt beside her. "I gave her some painkillers. She should wake up soon."

The Kami of Stars opened crimson-red eyes to see her daughters by her side. Her shaking lessened as the pain began to fade, and she took deep breaths of relief.

The Kami of Stars weakly murmured, "Tanuki…"

Amaterasu approached them and leaped from her comfortable perch on a nearby stone. She lowered her head and whispered, "He died, or have you forgotten?"

"He died because of me," the Kami of Stars replied, tears streaming down her face. "I couldn't save him."

Amaterasu nuzzled her gently and said, "He's with the Kami above the clouds now. Do not worry about him anymore. You have more important matters to attend to."

"Yes," the Kami of Stars whispered.

Rei draped a yukata over her mother to keep her warm. "Mother, you need to rest," she whispered.

Without hesitation, the Kami of Stars closed her eyes, exhausted from fighting off the pain she had endured for so long.

The gentle sound of her breathing filled the cavern. Hoshiyo gently stroked her mother's head, watching her sleep peacefully for the first time in a long while.

Kuzunoha stood beside the sisters and whispered, "Let her rest here for a while. You should go home and return when she's ready to move again."

"When will that be?" Hoshiyo asked.

"It's hard to say," Kuzunoha replied. "Everyone responds differently to my treatment. Give her some time to heal."

Rei was the first to stand, glancing at the surrounding Kami, who was watching them. She said, "Kuzunoha is right. There's nothing more we can do for her now. Our adventure ends here."

Amaterasu chuckled and said, "On the contrary, the nine of us have long discussed what to do with you all living on our island."

"You want us to leave?" Hoshiyo asked.

Amaterasu began pacing around the sisters. "No, quite the opposite. We want to reward you for rescuing us during the most vulnerable time we've experienced in centuries. We've come to recognize our limits as ancient Kami and would like you to take on tasks we cannot."

"What tasks?" Hoshiyo asked. "I thought our mother already assigned us duties."

"Those duties are to help each other, and the civilians on the island grow stronger, preparing for the end of our lush planet as we know it."

"How will we know when that day comes?" Hoshiyo asked.

"You won't, but you must protect the island at all costs. It is humanity's last hope of survival," Amaterasu said.

Ceres crossed her arms and smirked. "So, what are we, superheroes now?"

"Human superheroes possess a single ability that makes them stand out. You will be much more than that."

Hoshiyo sighed heavily and said, "I can speak for all of us when I say I am thankful for such an incredible opportunity, but we don't have a home. The house at the base of the mountain burned down, and our cave, where we were born, became a tomb."

"We will build you a palace unlike any other, with stone walls tall enough to protect you from any danger on the ground," Amaterasu assured.

"Are you serious?" Takeko cheered. "A palace fit for an emperor!"

As the others stood speechless, Rei's eyes widened. "That is incredibly generous of you."

Hoshiyo asked, "Wait, did you mention a potential attack from the sky?"

Rei frowned. "The Kami of the Sun is offering us a palace, and you're concerned about a remote threat from above?"

Amaterasu chuckled. "Indeed, in the future, our potential is limitless. Stay vigilant at all times, my warriors."

"Congratulations, it's a great honor," Kuzunoha chimed in with a smile. "Return to the village where you came from and build a home beyond anyone's imagination."

The sisters exchanged smiles, envisioning endless possibilities for their new home, knowing the decision rested with the Kami themselves. Amaterasu and Hoshiyo led them back with prideful strides, Hoshiyo cherishing her mother's stories. In contrast, the others walked alongside their Kami, whom they had grown fond of quickly—the future brimmed with boundless opportunities.