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[biteoffherhead]

[One month after her 'victory' against Ninetails, Moro is in much better shape. She isn't roaming close to the village lately, however - any snowfall is remarkably free of her giant pawprints. But for those that venture into the forest, the prints in the snow or dirt are almost always fresh - she has been roaming nearly nonstop since she recovered.

Today, one may find Moro comfortably perched near the lake, looking over the wildlife that came to the water. There's been no effort to hide herself, despite her smell of old, caked blood still a bit fresh from the shoulder wound that Ninetails had inflicted, and the numerous other scars. She was still a bit tender, after all, and those were vulnerable spots. But, as is her way, she's stubborn and confident to the end.

And honestly, for those who want to talk to her, she's looking very content and very peaceful. She'll probably be willing to have a civil conversation! (Gasp!)]

Comments

[biteoffherhead]

Necessity does not mean equality.

[goldenglasses]

Then what does? Everyone here in Luceti seems to be equal to me, why can't it work elsewhere?

[biteoffherhead]

...What does equality mean to you?

[goldenglasses]

[Vash is quiet for awhile as he thinks it over. It is a complicated question after all.] I suppose I see it as people treating each other equally, not trying to take advantage of or thinking that they're better each other because one is superior to another.

[biteoffherhead]

Then you and I are speaking of entirely different things.

You are speaking like a human, instead of understanding a wolf.

[goldenglasses]

I'm sorry. [And he is. More that he knows he'll never be able to agree with much of your thinking.] I'd just like to believe everyone can get along. Gods and humans.

[biteoffherhead]

It once was. But the gods will not humbly stand still and allow the humans to tear down the forests and to kill the gods. To cut the head of the forest spirit, out of their greed!

[goldenglasses]

Ah. No, of course they can't just do nothing against that. [They don't need to kill, but uh... we'll just not say that right now.] But what about in a world where the humans are taking care of the forest and trying to make it grow. Can't they live equally together then?

[biteoffherhead]

It once was.

[And the tone says, 'never will be again'.]

[goldenglasses]

It could always be again.

[biteoffherhead]

Never. Once they turned the guns against the gods, and cut the head of the forest spirit... they have sinned beyond redemption.

May they all die for their actions.

[goldenglasses]

That is a horrible thing, but there must be some way for them to make up for their mistake.

[biteoffherhead]

They will die. With the Forest Spirit dead, everything will die.

[goldenglasses]

But what if they try to care for the forest? Couldn't a new Forest Spirit be born?

[biteoffherhead]

The Forest Spirit will not die with his head cut off. He will take the lives of every living thing, until the sun rises and he fades away in his true death.

[goldenglasses]

Then what about those who survive after the day breaks? Couldn't they start work on repairing the forest?

[biteoffherhead]

I would doubt it. Such a land would be so drained of life and cursed by the Forest Spirit's rage that I truly doubt that anything would grow.

[goldenglasses]

But there is still hope.

[biteoffherhead]

For my daughter... perhaps my sons... perhaps even that boy, Ashitaka. But not for me.

This place drew me from the comfort of death. I should be dead, as I was.

[goldenglasses]

I'm sorry... but at least there's still hope for your family. [And he is really sorry. He hates hearing of death.]

[biteoffherhead]

...I have long known our fate. Since the very day the humans turned their swords against us, I knew that we would either slaughter all of them and return to a feral life, or we would all die, leaving humans to poison the earth.

My poor daughter... she is a wolf, despite her human body. She cannot return to them, no matter how that boy pleas for it. Neither human, nor wolf... once the wolves die, she will be forever on her own.

[She sulks, growling bitterly.]

Even that boy could not save her from that fate, even if he may save her from others...

[goldenglasses]

But maybe he still can. The ticket to the future is always blank. You never know where it will take you. Maybe someday there will be a place where your daughter will belong.

[biteoffherhead]

...What a curse I have placed on my daughter.

[goldenglasses]

You weren't listening were you...

[biteoffherhead]

How could he help her?