Spirits Gods And Men

the return of the king

"Forest spirit" shouted ashitaka to gain it's attention. "We give you back your head take it and be at peace"he continued. The forest spirit acknowledge them and proceeded to recover it's decapitated head. As it reached for its head however it stopped as it felt a powerful presence in the area. Ashitaka took notice and wondered what caused the forest spirit to become so fearful. It retracted the large mass of its liquid like body back as it looked to the west.

Ashitaka, san and jigo followed it's gaze where they saw a large man. Jigo looked in fear at the man "No it can't be him he died 7000 years ago" The man was well built and was wearing what appeared to be roots, leaves, other plant-like material, but what caught their eyes wasn't what he was wearing but what he had on his head; on his head were three sets of horns, one set was curled like a ram's, another was shaped like a bull's, But the third pair and largest were shaped like that of an elder male deer. The man wasn't walking but floating in the air as he moved towards them. ashitaka looked to jigo "jigo you know this man?" Ashitaka said trying to get some answers. Jigo responded "yes I know him the thing is though...he's.......he's not a man....he is a god, but not just any god his name is Orion; King of the forest". That Name sent a chill down ashitaka's spine he looked at San who was on her knees and bowing before the powerful being.

In a deep and powerful voice he said to ashitaka "Why do you have my son's head in a pot" ashitaka was overwhelmed with the power he was dispelling in an instant he was afraid but gave a response nonetheless. "We tried to return it to him so he would stop destroying everything to get to it" Orion looked at the Forest spirit and hovered to it. He glared at it for a second before tapping the spirit, it soon started to return to it's normal form but as it did it started to wither and rot as the body aged and turned to dust in a matter of seconds. Ashitaka and jigo stood with horrified faces at what had just happened while san was praying in an unknown language.

Orion descended to the ground and walked towards san "get up child of Moro, I shall not have my granddaughter praying or bowing to me" he said as he picked san up off her feet "forgive me Lord Orion I did not mean-" she began but the spirit interrupted her "please none of this 'lord' business, you are my granddaughter I'll have none of that from my descendants" he said in a demanding but caring voice. "However what is this I hear of humans destroying my forest"said Orion as he saw multiple trees and forests destroyed "forgive us Orion for we were only trying to make more space for homes and-" jigo said but was stopped "BE SILENT, YOU HUMANS ARE ALL THE SAME DESTROYING EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH, CLAIMING EVERYTHING AS YOURS!!!" Orion responded with so much hate.

Orion then proceeded to grab jigo's head and very ripped it off causing blood to shoot out of the stump that was his neck, San ran behind ashitaka in fear of him. As he flicked the blood off of his hand, he turned to ashitaka " I hold no hatred or resentment towards you boy for you tried to help my forest as well as your tribe to the north". He approached ashitaka and San and took hold of both of their shoulders and vanished, the next thing they knew, they were back at the pool of the forest spirit. Orion walked over to the bodies of Moro and Okotto and chuckled "So you two finally killed each other huh?" Said Orion, he waved his hand on both their bodies.

As soon as he did this Moro's head started to reform and both their injuries healed and closed up. Their eyes burst open as they started to return to the world of the living. Okotto spoke first "what happened, all I remember is feeling pure anger and hatred then nothing" he said but then he heard laughter and turned to the source of it only to stare in shock at who it was. "Hello Okotto what is this I heard that you were going to war with the humans" he said with much disappointment "M-m-my Lord I can explain" he said with fear lacing his voice. "Oh and just how do you explain how you led thousands of boars and hogs to their deaths just to eliminate the humans" he said as he walked toward him.

Okotto could not answer as he put his head down in shame, Orion then turned to Moro "Moro I am disappointed in you as well care to tell me why you did not tell the other animal tribes to help the forest and chase the humans out and back into their village, hmm?" Moro looked on her father in shame as she also had no answer for him. "I...I cannot say father, please forgive me for my arrogance" she said with sadness in her voice for disappointing him. "I created you both to be the strongest of the animal tribes but you let arrogance and your hatred blind you from truly protecting the forest, and now I see you have failed yet again" he said.

"But" he started"I can see it was not your fault, and I do not hate you for it because I love all my children and all that I have created, you two are among the first born of the gods I have created and given life" he said with pride. He looks looked at Moro and spoke "Moro you gave me but three beautiful grandchildren with one of them being human" he then turned to Okotto and spoke to him as well "Okotto you led the boars to different lands to help them survive without you I believe the boars would suffer from lack of leadership and would be thrown into chaos" he said as they looked up at him they both responded "thank you father, for we do not deserve this forgiveness from you" Orion sat there with a smile etched in his face.

He then stood up and walked toward Ashitaka and San "you two have helped my forest and kept it from dying, and I thank you for it" they both looked at him in shock but it quickly turned to normal, Ashitaka spoke first "of course oh great Orion we are not worthy of your praise" said Ashitaka as he bowed before the great spirit, San spoke up next "if there is anything you need Lord Orion we will see you get it" she said. As she said that his smile faded and his eyes turned into a hateful glare, he growled out "Tell me where iron town is".