[Micah]

He was mentally blinded and was a little dizzy, but had the sense to carry forward. He turned toward Oro and ran after him. They would kill this thing. So they ran forward, running down another quarter mile of the cavern.

By this time Okami, and probably the others would have been to, is this worth it? He wasn't sure anymore, but this quest was all he had anymore. It had to be completed. He caught up to Oro, and they ran ahead. The Akail was definitely getting closer. He could smell the foul stench more clearly than ever.


[4.2]

[NatureGirl]

I saw a dash of (insert color here) as the Akail dashed by. "THE CAKE!!!" I hissed as my adrenaline made me faster. I jumped on the Akail and pinned it down. "Okami, I have it!!!" I shouted.

[Ashes]

"Okami, we can leave right now. We can leave her to die..." I laughed, slithering nearer. "Why do we want cake? it is human food. What greatness does this bring us? " I wrestled with his will, trying to kill him.  My heart was lost. I didn't want to kill. It was so wrong! But, I was winning the fight. "Fight, dang it!"

[NatureGirl]

I sensed Okami was in trouble. The cake or Okami. The choice was clear. I sliced the neck of the Akail and charged back to Okami, leaving the dying creature to be. "No!" I snarled. I stepped in front of Okami, sheilding him. "You can't have him. You can't take him from me." I looked at the evil being. "There's good in you, I know it. Come back to us, Zephyr. Please."

[Ashes]

Snarling, i tried to zap away his will, but there was nothing left. It consumed me, and i feasted upon Okami's soul. " I  Must Stop..." I tried and slowly gained less ground. my sanity was gone, but the urge was leaving. Hunger left me. " I am not evil, I am weak, and I must be killed" I said, panic coming to engulf me.

[NatureGirl]

" I... I will kill you... I will..." I promised the new Zephyr as I pounced on the creature. I grabbed it by the head, and smashed it against the ground, the wall, even against the dazed Okami. I felt the struggle leaving the damned creature.

[Ashes]

"Sorry..."   I whispered, and I felt nothing as I was killed. It was the end.

[Zephyer leaves]

[NatureGirl]

The blood filled my mouth after Zephyr died. I dropped the body, the blood foul and wretched. "May your soul be blessed, Zephyr." I whispered. "Okami... wake up. Wake up!!" I cried as I shook him.

[Micah]

(holy sheet guys, you gave me chills. That was so intense!)

It was zapping his willpower. Hope was fleeting, but he could feel the struggle inside. Then there was a pain, and a buzzing at the back of his skull. He slowly regained his thoughts to see a very disgruntled Oro in front of him, and a struggling Akail further behind him.

"What... What's going on? What's that... the buzzing... where's... where's Zypher? How did.." And he fell back, into the hard cavern wall.


[0.3]

[NatureGirl]

((Thanks!! It's my specialty))

"Okami!!" I shouted as I lunged forward to catch him. He landed on my back and I lifted him up on me as I walked over to the Akail. I grabbed the cake and put the dying Akail out of it's misery. I crabbed the cake and made my way out of the cave, not looking back on those horrors. "Let's go home," I said.

**The next Day**

I finally arrived at the hospital with the still unconcious Oro. I got off the company helicopter and ran in. "HELP!!" I shouted. "SOMEONE, HELP MY FRIEND!!!" I screamed as a nurse and surgeons came to me. "Help him..." I whimpered as they rolled him away. I did the one thing I knew I could do. I prayed for him then settled in to a soft seat for a wait.

[Micah]

The buzzing wouldn't stop. It was louder this time, but with many different pitches thrown in. There was also a beeping. Okami opened his eyes. "Where... am I? Oro...? Zephyr...? I..." He was lying on clouds. There were many different sounds and colors. Many were shades of red and white flowing in and out of his view. He could here soft music... Like the kind his owner used to play before the animals went to sleep... If only this were his reality.

[1.3]

[NatureGirl]

I came in to see Okami, sneaking past all doctors or nurses in my way. I made my way up to the bed. The machine was bleeping steadily, so Okami was okay. "Okami?" I whispered. "Wake up, Okami."

[Micah]

Okami dropped out of the clouds.=, and landed in a less comfortable hospital bed. He spotted Oro sitting next to him with a doctor standing near the doorway, tampering with his medical equipment. "Oro... did you get it? Why are we here? Where's Zephyr? How come-" He was stopped by a horrible throbbing in his temple. They must have succeeded or else he wouldn't smell the cake so strong near Oro.


[2.3]

[NatureGirl]

I looked up with happy tears at the sound of Okami's voice. "We got it, buddy," he said as he hugged Okami. "We got it."