Prince Mononoke

Prologue

Dark clouds of storm and void casted shadows upon the already gloomy earth. Rain fell as fast as every drop before it, causing the river to grow with new water. The murkiness of the ever flowing pool told a story of how bad the storm was. The water roared and the mists grew tall, desperation grew for a town of people, trying trudge back to the place they made themselves cozy into. The place they called home. The voices of those angry, those who wanted to be home bellowed through the crowd. The path they walked along was familiar, man made. The trees were burned and the branches that stood tall were dulled down. Hardly anything remained outside of human activity. All except for what hid in the forests that surrounded. That night, something would be different. The forest echoed with a dread more than the murky storm.
Whip collided with ox as the poor creatures struggled up the muddy slopes. As did the people. The one who started the operation stood with one of the men, a look of sourness spread across his face as he too peered down at the struggling civilians.
"the sooner we get this rice home, the sooner we can eat. Let's move!" The lady called for all to hear. A call for motivation.
Just then, a worker bolted down the slopes of the path. Panting and trying to catch his breath,
"Coming this way! The wolves!" He cried. The lady turned to face where the worn out worker nodded to. As he said, from the mist and dead of the forest, you could see a streak of white flashes bolting down the mountain of the dead forest and trees. On the back of one rode a white fur covered boy who wore a mask to cover his face. One could almost consider him a pup.
The three bolted down the cliffs, ready to attack those who took the mountains and forest away from them.
"Don't let the oxen panic! Stay calm, and take up your positions." The lady commanded. Her tone soft, almost monotone as the people of the town obeyed and continued up.
A commander stepped up, as those with guns prepared for a fight
"Keep your powder dry, make sure you wait for them to come within range!" He hissed as the men readied their weapons. New guns handcrafted from wood and iron. Umbrellas kept everything covered as the men took aim. The wolves continued to sprint, unready to back down.
"Ready," steady aim was once again checked for safest measures, "and fire!" Upon the ladies command, the men fired without second thought or hesitation. Each round seemed to miss the white beasts as they continued to sprint at the civilians. The boy held out a hand and they turned away, going back up the mountain side. The rocks from the dogs became unstable and shot at those trying to work below them. As the men continued to shoot the wolves only got further away. Turning again and aiming back for the people.
"Second round, fire!" The men, just as prepared as the last round shot again. The wolves seemed unfazed, as the two split ways back up the mountain.
"That was it?" The commander questioned, expecting more of a fight from the tribe of wolves
"They weren't so big." He murmured in a quiet grumble as the lady stared forward to the dogs
"They're just pups, wait till you see their mother." She turned, knowing the worst of the attack was yet to come. Those working stopped, looking on in worry. They too knew the fight wasn't yet over.
From nowhere, a large white wolf with bloodshot red eyes bolted for the people. The mother that the lady had been talking about.
"It's Moro!" The lady yelled, loading her gun immediately at the sight of the beast of a god. Moro continued forward, not intending to stop, as neither did her pups. She bit down on a ox upon contact, growling and sprinting forward towards the lady, knocking the civilians away from her path. Shots went off as men lost control trying to get the wolf god. Men and ox flew off the cliff side as result of the crossfire. As did the loads of rice and goods.
"Come on." The lady barked in challenge to the wolf. Her aim not moving from Moro. The she-wolf continued to throw people off the cliff out of the way, some managed to avoid her, others didn't. The lady shot once she was close enough. Moros eyes filled with rage as her chest wound began to seep blood. One managed to set fire around the dog as she flew forward in pain. Shooting herself off the edge of the mountain to attempt to get away. Her back shattered a tree upon collision as she continued to fly in pain and fury, disappearing into the fog. The commander cackled from the crowd despite the massacre of people she took down with her.
"We killed her!" He cheered, the lady glared down to where she was certain Moro would land.
"You forget she is a god. It will take more than that." She spat, as if to taunt her own attack. The two wolf pups and the boy began to chase after their mother. She was indeed alive, they would ensure of that much as they disappeared into the fog as their mother did.
The cows bellowed and men Moro attacked groaned out in agony. She had done damage to the people, as they had done to her and her forests. The commander snorted at the damage done to the people and the new food.
"We move out now" the lady had already begun it move up.
"But what about the men she pushed off the cliff?" He questioned, she barely turned to face him
"They're dead. Let's get the living home."