Kumari and Sazume noticed that the round boulders were, actually, the lizard-demons’ eggs. They had fall exactly into the enemy’s nest.
- Who would believe it… Right under our noses! How come the hunters didn’t find it yet?
- The river… – Sazume looked to the flowing water. – Of course! It’s impossible to follow a smell through a river! That’s why this place remained hidden!
- Look at the size of these eggs... They’re almost as tall as me! – said him, observing one of them closely.
Suddenly, the egg broke right in front of his face, and a huge lizard stretched its head out. Kumari retreated, holding his sword firmly, and then several other eggs started cracking too. Sazume approached the young noble, seeing that they were surrounded. In few seconds, there were six of those big lizards around them.
- Oh my... Stay close to me, my lady! – Kumari asked, looking at Sazume, but got surprised when he saw she wasn’t showing any sign of fear.
- Are you thinking these things can pose me any threat? – she asked, crackling her fingers as her nails grew, becoming claws just like her mother’s. – I am lord Sesshomaru and lady Yume’s daughter. No offense… But my parents would be disappointed if I needed to hide behind someone in a fight!
Kumari smiled, relieved by her self-confidence.
- Let’s go, then! There are enough of them for both of us!
One of the demons charged against Sazume, but was torn into pieces by her sharp claws. Kumari dodged a bite and repelled the lizard with strikes with his family’s sword. Sazume jumped when one of the demons tried to bite her feet, and fell over it with her claws pointed down, vanquishing it. Another lizard moved toward the girl while her claws were still stuck on her prey’s corpse, but Kumari quickly covered her, slashing the attacking demon with his sword. The remaining enemies attacked shortly after, but were faced with fierce resistance, and were dispatched before having an actual chance of hurting them.
- That was too easy! – Sazume yelled, thrilled.
- They were just hungry babies. – Kumari explained, striking down her excitement. – Still, we make a good team, didn’t we? – he smiled at her, and she grinned back.
Kumari stared at her for a few moments, and then approached her timidly.
- You have a stain of blood… on your face. – he reached her, hesitating, and cleaned the stain off her face. Both of them blushed, and an awkward silence reigned for a few moments, until they heard a mighty roar.
