In the snowbound silence, the clash of blades rang out sharp and urgent, like the pounding of war drums.
Each echo reverberated fiercely across the mountains, shaking loose heavy snow from distant branches. The flurries drifted down in great sheets, as if the heavens themselves were scattering blossoms.
On the mountainside, Kujaku and the newly arrived Seiten, along with other Dog yōkai, crouched low together, their heads pressed close as they watched.
Kujaku's eyes stayed fixed on Shirayuki as she moved—light as a startled swan, graceful as a dragon in flight. Without meaning to, a flicker of envy crossed her gaze.
Such talent. Beautiful, too. And the King's only daughter besides… she truly matches Lord Tōga perfectly.
Among the captains present, Seiten had the deepest seniority. As he watched Tōga appear to struggle 'on the brink of death' beneath the noble lady's blade, he sighed deeply, then muttered under his breath:
"If I ever marry, it definitely won't be to this kind of temper… otherwise my dog-life will be ruined."
It was meant as a private complaint, a quiet murmur from the heart, but none of them were ordinary. Every Dog Clan warrior there had senses sharper than steel.
The words, soft as they were, fell into their ears as clear as thunder in a silent night.
At that very moment, the duel in the snowfield, this 'affectionate slaughter' came to an abrupt end with one final sharp cry of steel.
Shirayuki sheathed her blade and stood tall, her posture as straight as a pine tree, like a proud plum blossom blooming defiantly in the frozen land.
Her body trembled faintly—whether from exhaustion, from Seiten's words that had just reached her ears, or from the unshakable blush of embarrassment she felt before Tōga, even she could not say.
She bit down on her lower lip, her golden eyes flashing with emotions too tangled to read—anger mingled with shame, a storm she could not quell.
Such audacity! Such nerve!
Tōga, too, had paused, rubbing the back of his teeth. He suddenly understood why Seiten, in the original story, had died charging stubbornly against the Four War Gods. His reckless streak was showing already.
Yet ironically, thanks to that one careless remark, Shirayuki had gone quiet—and what had seemed a battle to the death finally dissolved into uneasy calm.
The two of them stood facing one another, and in that frozen stillness, it felt as though the whole world had hushed, leaving only the soft patter of falling snow.
Tōga lifted his eyes, stealing a glance at Shirayuki. Across her face bloomed the faintest blush, delicate as sunset fire painting the evening sky—so breathtaking he nearly lost himself in it.
That fleeting shyness made his heart leap, and just as it did, his eyes met hers directly.
The unguarded warmth and joy in the boy's gaze poured straight into Shirayuki's heart, undeniable and without reservation.
Her lashes trembled. For a moment, it felt as if his eyes burned her, and instinctively she wanted to turn away. But her pride—her lifelong, stubborn pride wouldn't allow it. She held her gaze, glaring back.
Yet even as she glared, her thoughts scattered. Looking at Tōga's noble bearing, his brilliance like the sun itself, she felt a flash of panic deep within.
Her temper rose again, and she turned abruptly, searching for the 'culprit' to vent her anger on.
Kujaku's eyes were already narrowed, fixed on Seiten. As a woman, she found his earlier remark especially offensive, and silently vowed to make him pay dearly for it later.
The Great Elder, however, hearing Seiten's words, merely paused—then chuckled softly. His eyes gleamed with amusement as if to say: Whose pup is this? So bold indeed.
Seiten, realizing far too late what he had done, shrank down on himself. Inwardly, he prayed fervently for a Leopard Cat Tribe attack—anything to save him from this disaster.
Suddenly, he felt a sharp chill, like twin blades cutting into his skin. He lifted his head on instinct.
Shirayuki's eyes glowed with icy fury, like two daggers slashing straight at him.
That glare carried such authority and disapproval that Seiten's fur stood on end. Without a second thought, he shoved his head deep into the snow, leaving only his tail sticking out, trembling violently.
The other dogs nearby, swept by the edges of Shirayuki's gaze, clamped their mouths shut and pressed themselves into the snow as well, terrified of drawing her wrath.
Watching this, Tōga stepped forward. Under Shirayuki's startled gaze, he reached out and caught her slender, delicate hand.
She tried to pull away several times, but his grasp held firm. After a few futile struggles, she gave up, though her eyes—burning with murderous glare, turned fiercely on him.
The next moment, she looked away, as if nothing had happened. Her golden eyes wandered up toward the blue sky and drifting clouds, as though she had found something more worthy of her attention than him.
Stubborn to the core—sharp tongue, sharper eyes, Tōga mused, shaking his head.
He couldn't help but recall the many 'pearls of wisdom' once spoken by his own son:
"Only useless half-demons would consort with humans."
"Rin, we're leaving."
"I, Sesshōmaru, have nothing I wish to protect."
"Anything that comes at the cost of Rin's life… is worthless!"
Banishing those memories for now, Tōga glanced around. With Shirayuki no longer glaring daggers at them, the dogs nearby slowly began to relax again.
He cleared his throat softly, then raised his voice:
"Since the three patrol squads and the elder are all gathered here, let's hold a captain's council. I'll share the latest intelligence on the Leopard Cats."
Hand in hand with Shirayuki, and under the watchful eyes of the gathered yōkai, he led her step by step into the outpost.
Her cheeks flushed faintly. Though her face tried to display unwillingness, her unresisting steps betrayed her true feelings.
The Great Elder's face brimmed with satisfaction. His eyes softened with relief, as though he had glimpsed the future hope of the Dog Clan itself, as he followed behind at an easy pace.
Even Seiten and the other captains hurried to tidy their ruffled fur and fell in line, their expressions slightly stiff with unease.
The rest of the dogs went about their duties.
Kujaku, along with two young dogs who had only just learned to take human form the day before, began their patrol around the outpost.
Inside the cave, the air grew heavier.
Seiten sat in a corner, stealing fearful glances at Shirayuki seated beside Tōga.
She had shed the sharp edge she wielded in the snowfield, instead radiating a calm and dignified presence.
Her posture was elegant, her back straight, hands folded gracefully atop her knees. Her long, slender fingers had an almost sculptural elegance to them.
Her hair fell like a silken waterfall down her back, swaying gently with her smallest motions, a quiet orchid blooming in the stillness of a hidden valley.
Yet even so, Seiten's nerves remained taut. The memory of his careless words gnawed at him, each thought of her cold glare sending another shiver of dread crawling up his spine.
He hunched his shoulders and prayed silently that Shirayuki would soon forget his 'offense'.
Almost against his will, his eyes darted toward Tōga, silently begging for help.
Tōga caught his glance and answered with a subtle look that said: Leave it to me. Relief washed through Seiten, and his spine straightened just a little.
Sitting in the seat ceded to him by the Great Elder, Tōga's expression turned solemn. He cleared his throat and began, his voice calm and steady, echoing in the cave:
"Regarding Tōran's movements, here is the intelligence we have."
When he spoke of a Leopard Cat Tribe yōkai with a blazing aura soon to arrive, the Great Elder's half-closed eyes snapped wide open, flashing with an unshakable hatred.