Caught In The Crossfire

While Kuzunoha and Rei tended to the other sisters' wounds, Hoshiyo lay in bed, the weight of her story pressing down on her. With a heavy sigh, she continued, "I walked to the pier to get a closer look at what they were bringing to our island without permission. But it was much worse than I had imagined."

Takeko, arms crossed, scoffed. "Are you serious? You went out there alone without any backup?"

The room was silent as the other sisters shared the same disapproval, though none had the energy to voice it. Hoshiyo knew she should never have gone alone, but at the time, she only wanted to assess the situation and report back. That plan, however, had unraveled quickly.

She clenched her fists, glancing away from her sisters, unable to meet their eyes. The guilt weighed heavily on her, but she forced herself to continue. She had to explain. "When I reached the pier, I saw them... a fleet of Atakebune war vessels. Floating fortresses, all around the bay, packed with Shogunate soldiers. I could only assume the Shogun himself had come with them."

"What are Atakebune war vessels?" Rei asked, frowning in confusion.

Takeko, her expression serious, picked up a thin piece of charcoal and a scrap of paper. She sketched quickly, her hand moving with purpose. "These coastal warships bear the crest of the Tokugawa Clan," she explained, holding up the rough drawing of a towering ship, sails marked with the Shogun's symbol. "They're reinforced with iron plates around their wooden bodies. These ships are almost impossible to take down—protected from cannons, fire arrows, and they still use oars for added speed."

Hoshiyo nodded, her voice quieter now. "If we'd had more time, we might've been able to infiltrate them from within. But were we attacking from the outside? It would've been futile. No one here, not even a Yokai, could bring down a ship like that."

Rei wasn't satisfied yet. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to make sense of Hoshiyo's choices. "So what did you do after you saw the vessels?"

Hoshiyo hesitated, her breath catching as she recalled that snowy afternoon, the weight of the memory heavy in her chest. After gathering enough details about the vessels, she noticed crates unloaded onto the shore—food supplies, medicine, and materials to construct tents and forts. It was clear that the Shogunate intended to stay for an extended period, and Hoshiyo knew it was her cue to leave before they spotted her.

She turned to blend into the crowd of people and wolves walking the main path, but two Shogunate soldiers in full armor followed her. One of them, a man with a long black beard, grabbed her shoulder and demanded, "Hey, where's your escort, young woman?"

Hoshiyo forced an awkward chuckle, masking her unease. "Escort? Why would I need one?" she asked.

With thick, bushy eyebrows, the other soldier added, "On the mainland, we don't allow women in the cities without an escort—either their husband or father. Courtesans with contracts are also allowed, but only with their handlers. We assumed these islands followed the same rules."

Hoshiyo's heart pounded, her blood boiling with fury at their words. She had never heard of such a degrading practice, and the notion that they would impose it on her people was unforgivable. She shoved the man's hand off her shoulder, her teeth clenched in anger. "We don't have brothels here," she snapped, her voice sharp as steel. "And we certainly don't need passes to enter our cities."

The soldiers exchanged glances, clearly surprised by her defiance, but Hoshiyo stood her ground. She could feel the tension rising, the air thick with the threat of confrontation.

The Shogunate warrior with the long beard stroked his chin, a cruel chuckle escaping his lips. "That's a shame," he sneered. "I was hoping for some... service after our long journey. How about you, Daisuke?"

Daisuke, the warrior with bushy eyebrows, stepped closer, trapping Hoshiyo against the wall of a nearby building. His eyes flicked to the katana at her side, a smirk spreading across his face. "No husband? You must be an onna-musha, then? One of those female warriors? What do you think, Saboru?"

Saboru, the bearded man, scoffed. "Don't be absurd. Female warriors died out ages ago, long before the 1600s."

"You're wrong," Daisuke countered. "I've seen them in the outskirts, outside the major cities."

As the two men bickered, Hoshiyo seized the moment to slip away from their conversation quietly. But she didn't get far. Saboru's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist and yanking her back. Her heart raced, fear clawing at her throat as she imagined the worst. He could kill her in an instant.

"Where do you think you're going?" Saboru growled, pulling her closer. "You're not leaving with that dangerous weapon. We'll have to confiscate it."

Daisuke's eyes gleamed. "We should sell her back on the mainland. She looks like she'd fetch a high price."

Hoshiyo's hand instinctively gripped the hilt of her katana, her knuckles turning white. "I'm not going anywhere with you," she spat, defiance burning in her eyes.

Saboru smirked, tightening his grip. "We'll see about that." He and Daisuke dragged her toward the ships, their iron-clad arms holding her fast.

Desperate, Hoshiyo squirmed and dug her heels into the dirt, but it was futile. The strength of their steel-clad arms overpowered her, leaving her trapped in their grasp.

The cold winter air carried her screams across the village, where terrified onlookers stood frozen, powerless to help. Their wide eyes reflected the horror of what was unfolding before them—a warrior being dragged away like a common criminal.

"Let me go!" Hoshiyo shouted, her voice raw and fury. "I will never allow your mainland laws to govern this island! I would rather die than see our land enslave women for men!"

Her words cut through the cold like a blade, the defiance in her voice unmistakable. Tears of frustration welled in the eyes of some of the villagers, but none dared to step forward, fearing the Shogunate's wrath.

Saboru and Daisuke only laughed as they tightened their hold, mockery slicing deeper than any sword.

"Enslaved people? You're nothing more than that already," Saboru sneered, dragging her closer to the pier. "We're here to cleanse this island of your kind. The Shogun has sent us to take down your so-called leader and claim this forsaken land for himself. Burn it all down, and start fresh. A new and improved world."

Hoshiyo's heart raced, fury rising like a storm within her. The weight of their words crashed over her, the reality of their intent sinking in—her home, sisters, and people would all be destroyed under the Shogun's rule. They would enslave the women, burn the sacred forests, and defile everything the Kami had blessed them with.

She couldn't allow it.

"You dare speak of improvement when you treat women as property? We are not yours to take!" she yelled, rage boiling beneath her skin. "The Kami gave us strength not to be used or discarded but to be cherished and respected!"

But her words fell on deaf ears as Saboru and Daisuke kept laughing, dragging her toward the ships like she was nothing more than a prize. Her muscles strained as she fought against them, her body trembling with effort, yet she refused to give in.

As they neared the pier, something within Hoshiyo snapped. She could not let them take her when the island's future was at stake. At that moment, her anger surged, becoming a fierce, unyielding fire.

Hoshiyo's body trembled as her screams became a mighty wolf howl, echoing through the village and shaking the hearts of those watching. A bright, blinding light erupted around her, like a star bursting in the cold winter air. Daisuke and Saboru immediately recoiled, fear crawling up their spines as they saw her form begin to change.

"What is she doing? Where's that light coming from?" Saboru asked.

"I have no idea," Daisuke replied. 

Her human frame elongated and twisted under the radiant glow, bones shifting, muscles tightening. The light pulsed, growing brighter until it exploded into a dazzling spectacle. When it cleared, the massive black wolf with glowing, blood-red eyes stood in her place, towering over the two warriors. Her fur bristled, thick and dark as the night itself, and her snarl revealed razor-sharp fangs dripping with deadly intent.

Saboru and Daisuke stumbled backward, their confidence shattered. They had never seen a transformation like this.

Before they could even react, Hoshiyo lunged, her powerful jaws snapping with the force of a storm. She attacked ferocity, her teeth ripping into their armor like paper. Her massive paws struck with the weight of a mountain, sending them crashing into the snow.

Daisuke tried to swing his sword in his blood, but Hoshiyo's agility was unmatched. She dodged his strike with ease, sinking her fangs into his arm and tossing him aside like a rag doll. Saboru, desperately trying to pull his blade free, found himself face-to-face with her snarling maw. 

With one last courageous act, Saboru whispered, "The Shogun will put you down like the monster you are." 

With a single, bone-crushing bite, she sent him sprawling to the ground, defeated.

A triumphant, victorious howl rose from her throat, piercing the winter sky. The villagers, who had been watching in terror, now felt hope stir in their hearts. She had won, and for a moment, it seemed as though the island might be safe.

But then, a dark, looming figure appeared at the pier's edge.

The Shogun himself stepped down from his grand warship, his presence commanding and cold. His armor gleamed in the pale sunlight, every detail perfect and precise, as though untouched by battle. His eyes, sharp and calculating, locked onto Hoshiyo without hesitation. Unlike his men, he did not flinch. He did not fear.

He knew exactly who she was.

"The Generation of the Star," he said calmly, his voice steady despite the carnage around him. "The famed warrior of these islands. I have waited for this moment."

Hoshiyo snarled, her massive form lowering into a defensive crouch. Trust did not come quickly, especially with the man who had come to enslave her people, to burn her home to the ground. Her growl rumbled through the earth, but the Shogun remained unmoved.

"I know the Kami bestowed this power to you, and frankly, I don't care," he continued, his tone cold and unyielding. "I came to take control of your wolves, your people, and this island. You will either bow to me, or I will bring war upon your lands."

Hoshiyo's rage burned hotter. His arrogance and disregard for her people's lives infuriated her. But she was no fool. She knew the Shogun's power, knew the destruction he could bring. And yet, she couldn't back down. Not now. Not after everything.

"I will not go down without a fight," she growled, her voice like thunder. "But I will not allow you to harm the innocent. Leave the villagers out of this. If you want a battle, fight me. In the forest, away from the people. Let it be between us."

The Shogun's lips twisted into a sinister smile, a dark glint flickering in his eyes. "Where's your sense of adventure, young warrior? I came for carnage, for chaos."

Hoshiyo's heart pounded in her chest, but her voice remained firm. "It's me you want, so come and get me!" She released a fierce, echoing howl, daring him to follow as she darted deep into the forest, her form disappearing into the shadows of the trees.

The Shogun's laughter boomed across the village. "Shogunate! Burn it all to the ground!" he commanded, his voice dripping with cruel delight.

His soldiers roared in unison, fists raised as they surged forward, setting fire to everything in their wake. Flames licked at the edges of the village, consuming everything that stood in their path. Smoke rose in thick, black columns, filling the air with the stench of destruction.

Hoshiyo clenched her powerful jaw, fighting the urge to look back. She knew that the village would suffer no matter what path she chose. But she couldn't afford to hesitate. She had to face the Shogun head-on to save them and end this nightmare before it consumed them all.

With that, the Shogun turned and gestured for his men to stay behind. He followed Hoshiyo into the dense woods, where the snow-covered trees whispered of ancient battles long past. The village watched in stunned silence as their protector led the enemy away, knowing that the outcome of this fight would determine their fate.

The ground shook beneath their feet as they reached the forest's heart. Hoshiyo stopped, turning to face him with a fierce snarl.

But she was not alone.