Princess Mononoke

~The Arm of the Demon~

The very night Ashitaka was exiled from his village, was the same night his journey and quest began. He traveled for many days and nights to find the western land. One day on his travels he came across a village that looked troubled. He peered down at them from a hill and whispered to himself
"A battle?"
The village appeared to be on fire and the villagers were screaming for help.
" No.. A massacre..."

Men below were yelling at each other angrily
"Where are you going? Come back and fight me you coward!"
"They're unarmed!"
"Look at that hill!"
Ashitaka felt a fear building in him. They knew he was here.
"It's a warrior!"One yelled, and another growled "His head is mine!"

Yakul started galloping and the angry men shot arrows at Ashitaka. He managed to avoid their blows but noticed a women being tortured by a man with a long bow staff.
"You! Stop!" Ashitaka yelled.
He readied his bow when all of a sudden his infected arm started to burn and swell. Then the arrow was flying through the air scissoring through the torturers arms sending them flying off his body.
Ashitaka winced, "My arm?! What's happening to me?!"
The men were even angrier now. "Stop him, stop him before he gets away!"
The prince winced again "Let me pass! I'm warning you!"

He shot another arrow that sailed through the neck of a man on horseback decapitating him. Ashitaka beckoned Yakul who picked up his pace, carrying him and his master far away from the violent scene. A young samurai had been watching and gasped as what he saw, for he knew it could've only been one thing, and this he spoke to himself:

"A demon"

.....
Ashitaka stopped at a stream and washed his arm. The cool water was soothing.
"The mark...it's getting bigger..."