Ch. 5 Two-Headed Dragon

                                    

                                          
It had been a week since Kiyo arrived in the feudal era, and today, she found herself helping a group of women gather herbs from the mountain. In these past days, Kagome hadn't returned to the village—at least, not yet. Kiyo had also attempted to go back home through the well, but it had been hopeless. She just hoped Kagome was safe wherever she was, considering the role she had to play in the hunt for the Shikon Jewel shards. Kiyo had heard that Kagome and the others had been traveling from town to town through forests, defeating demons and monsters along the way.
Back on the mountain, gathering herbs, the climb was tough, but Kiyo was slowly adjusting to the unfamiliar terrain. The other women moved quickly, knowing exactly where to look for the plants they needed, while Kiyo followed along, doing her best to keep up.
Suddenly, a pack of wild boars appeared from the bush, charging toward them with fury. "Scatter!" one of the women shouted. In the chaos, they all split up, running in different directions to avoid the boars. Kiyo barely had time to think; her heart pounded in her chest as she darted deeper into the forest.
The wild boars pursued the others, leaving Kiyo alone in the thick woods, breathless and disoriented. Then, she realized she was alone. The sounds of the others had faded, and all she could hear now was the wind rustling through the trees. She looked around, panic setting in. The path she had been following was gone, and she had no idea which direction would lead her back to the village. The mountain loomed around her, vast and intimidating, and she felt the weight of what it meant to be truly lost.
Minutes turned to hours as Kiyo wandered through the dense forest, the once familiar sounds of the women and the path now swallowed by the thick trees. The sun, which had been high in the sky, was now beginning to dip, casting long shadows across the mountain. Kiyo glanced up, realizing it would be dark soon—too dark to safely navigate these unfamiliar woods.
Panic crept into her chest, but she pushed it down, recalling the survival lessons she'd learned from the villagers during her short time here. She had to keep calm. First, she needed shelter. She quickly searched for a place away from the wind, finding a small overhang of rock that could protect her from the cold.
The village women had taught her how to make a fire with flint and dry tinder. She fumbled through her pack, grateful she'd kept a few supplies with her, and after several tries, she managed to spark a small flame. As the fire crackled, she collected more dry wood, ensuring the flames would last through the night.
The sky was darkening fast, and Kiyo could feel the cold creeping in, but she knew she had to stay alert. The forest was full of dangers, and she couldn't afford to let her guard down. With the fire set and the shelter ready, she settled in, hugging her knees to her chest, hoping the others would find her soon—or at least that she could find her way back before it was too late.
Suddenly, Kiyo was jolted awake by an ear-piercing shriek. Her heart leaped in her chest as she sprang to her feet, her pulse racing. The noise was terrifying—sharp, almost unnatural. She crouched low, searching the shadows for the source.
But as she listened more closely, the shrieks weren't full of malice, but pain and distress. It sounded like... something in trouble. Her senses tingled with caution, but she couldn't ignore the desperate cry.
Slowly, Kiyo stood up, grabbing a small branch from the fire and using it as a weapon, just in case. The sound echoed again, this time louder. Her mind raced—what kind of creature could make such a noise?
She pushed forward, following the sound. The shrieks were getting louder, accompanied by pained growls, and soon she saw it. A massive brown dragon yōkai that had what looked like a two-headed horse, its scales glinting in the dim moonlight, struggling to free itself. One of its heads was caught in a tangle of thick branches. Head A was stuck, the creature having evidently tried to scratch its back or some other part of its body against the rough bark of the trees. In the process, it probably lost its balance and fell, with its head getting wedged tightly in the branches.
The dragon's body thrashed in desperation, but that did little to help. Head B snarled and pulled at the ground, trying to find a way to help its twin, but Head A remained stuck, unable to move. The cries of pain were sharp, filled with frustration and helplessness.
Kiyo froze, staring at the creature, and her breath caught in her throat. A two-headed dragon was no simple sight. The injured head pulled helplessly against the tangled branches. Fear rose in her chest again, but she told herself this creature wasn't attacking—it was hurt.
She took a cautious step forward, watching carefully as the dragon's head jerked, snarling in frustration. With every bit of courage she gathered, she carefully approached the struggling dragon. Its desperate thrashing had loosened some of the branches, and with a few swift, careful motions, Kiyo managed to pry the twigs from its tangled scales. The dragon's head, still snarling and growling, finally slipped free with a painful-sounding snap of the branches.
The moment it was free, a powerful gust of wind swept over Kiyo, knocking her off balance. She staggered back, falling to her knees, as the dragon unfolded a force that sent debris scattering into the air and soared into the sky.
Before Kiyo could even gather her breath, she heard another sound—a low growl just behind her. She turned around, her blood running cold as an enormous, hulking creature stepped into the light. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before—its fur matted with dirt, its eyes glowing with hunger, and its claws sharp enough to tear through steel. Kiyo barely had time to brace herself before she was knocked to the ground with a force that made her vision spin, as the creature loomed over her.
She gasped for breath, thinking she was finished. The creature's jaws opened, and she braced for the inevitable—until, just in the nick of time, a shadow swooped down. A loud roar filled the air as the creature was swept away by an immense force. The dragon—her rescuer—it had returned. With one powerful swipe of the dragon's claws, the beast was thrown back, crashing into the trees with a bone-shaking impact.
Within moments, the creature was back on its feet, charging again, its furious growls echoing through the air. Kiyo could barely move, frozen in terror as the beast closed in. But before she could react, she felt the dragon's claws grip around her, pulling her into the air. The next thing she knew, she was soaring upward, the ground shrinking below her. So, I guess dragons do know what it means to be in debt, Kiyo thought.
The wind rushed around her as the dragon carried them higher and higher, leaving the growling beast far below. Kiyo couldn't help but look down at the creature, still swiping at the air, unable to reach them.
The rush of wind was cold against her skin, but she wasn't going to complain—not when she was alive and safe. Eventually, the dragon began to descend, landing gracefully in a small clearing. And here, they were safe.