"So much death, how did Aoshima become a nest of Sarugami?" Tadayori led the wounded Masaki and Wasuren out of the forest. They arrived at one of the temporarily constructed sick bays, the others were full.
Kiyoshi emerged with some bandages tied on his head and arms. He took Wasuren's place and assisted Tadayori with the injured Masaki. He led them to the section the bay created for the wardens.
"They wished to separate us." Kiyoshi said as they arrived at the place where the wolf wardens were receiving treatment.
"They said it would be better if the seriously injured were in a different part getting the care they need. But we insisted on staying together, at least until our captains return."
"L-let me stand." Masaki said with a wince.
"Are you sure you can?" Kiyoshi asked concerned.
"Let me stand before my brothers Kiyoshi!"
Kiyoshi nodded, he gestures for Tadayori to let him be. Masaki grimaced as he was allowed to stand on his own, he took slow and steady steps till he arrived in front of all Wardens.
"OKAMI NO BANSHI." he said at the top of his voice. At his call, the samurai arose from their beds with their fists to their chests. Both the injured and uninjured.
As he got a good look at them he trembled. "How many are left Kiyoshi?"
There was a pause. " Twenty two."
"And how many can still hold their swords?"
Kiyoshi was downtrodden, "Taisho, maybe later we-"
"HOW MANY ?" Masaki yelled.
"S-seven." Kiyoshi stuttered with clenched fists. Masaki bowed his head trying to fight back his tears.
"I should leave you, this is not my place. Besides, I must report Lord Senzo." Tadayori said and was on his way. Meanwhile, some nurse came over to help Wasuren and Masaki with their wounds.
---
"I see." Lord Senzo said with a sigh. "So there's most likely another advanced tier or maybe a higher tier beast in there."
"Do you think we should send another letter?" Tadayori asked.
Lord Senzo thought for a while before responding. "It might be too late for that. I asked for an alliance on the basis of their help on eradicating this threat. I asked for reinforcement already. What would it look like if they received another letter?"
"I understand your concerns Senzo sama but there is more at stake than reputation here."
"Do not speak to me as if a man blinded by ego, do you think I don't know that!"
A second later there was a knock on the door and a samurai walked in. "Senzo sama." He bowed.
Lord Senzo nodded, "report."
"A scout returned... The reinforcement will be here within the next hour."
Senzo Aoshima's expression brightened, "that's good. Hopefully this can be taken care of earlier than we hoped."
Tadayori nodded, "I just pray there isn't another attack before-" but he was cut short by another knock at the door and for an unknown reason, a feeling of dread washed over him.
A samurai walked in through the door and bowed. "Speak." Lord Senzo commanded.
The samurai hesitated. "Senzo sama... At the abandoned outskirts, the scouts say a new sarugami horde approaches, and with them is an advanced tier."
"You may leave. Both of you." Both samurai left Senzo and Tadayori alone.
"You must prepare, we can't let them get into the village. How many are left?" Lord Senzo asked.
"Thanks to the wolf wardens the lot of our samurai survived, there were some casualties but the wolf wardens suffered more than we did."
"You should inform them of this advancement...and asked for their aid, if they no longer wish to fight, it would be understandable."
---
Tadayori returned to the wolf wardens and explained to them the issue at hand.
"It would be understandable if you decided to sit this one out, you are honorable samurai." Tadayori stated solemnly.
Masaki scoffed, "honorable samurai you say. My men who fell in battle while I was unconscious, they were honorable." Masaki arose from the place where he sat, he looked over at his men. He looked them deep in their eyes and smiled. "Look into their eyes Tadayori, do they look like the eyes of men too tired to hold a katana? No there is fire in them still. Go prepare your men, we will join you shortly.. for we have a score to settle with these beasts."
---
The Aoshima samurai that were stationed at the outskirts had returned to the edge of the village, Tadayori had called all able samurai to the edge of the village, for this is where they will stand their ground.
Few minutes passed and the wolf wardens arrived. Wasuren Hoshigami, Kiyoshi Kuma, and Masaki led the seven other wolf wardens who could fight. The others and Kiyoshi were on light armor, while Wasuren and Masaki were on simple black shirts over their trousers since their armors were damaged in the previous battle.
"Thank you for coming." Tadayori stated, them he pointed forward, "you're just in time."
Masaki frowned. "Is that my Warhammer in the hands of that beast?"
"I have to admit, it looks good on it." Wasuren jested. "Perhaps it can use it better than you."
"Perhaps my fist will look good on your face." Masaki retorted. Kiyoshi stared at them like they were little children.
"ARCHERS READY." Tadayori called as the beasts begun to advance faster. "FIRE!"
immediately multiple arrows were freed from the bows of Aoshima archers and found themselves in the skulls of sarugami.
"FIRE!" Tadayori yelled again and several arrows flew at the enemy. While the arrows were meant for the intermediate sarugami, some found it's way to the advanced tier, but the second they got close, he swatted them out of the sky like flies. The ones he couldn't block, he pulled out of his skin as if a minor inconvenience.
"They've broken through the lines. Ready men!" Tadayori exclaimed.
"Okami no Banshi!" Masaki called.
"Oi!
"OKAMI NO BANSHI!"
"OI"
"OKAMI NO BANSHI, STAND TALL IN THE FACE OF THE FOUL BEASTS BEFORE YOU AND PAINT THE EARTH WITH THE BLOOD OF YOUR ENEMIES!"
And with that call all wolf wardens charged into the horde of incoming beasts.