Excerpt: The Legend of Okami

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there was a kingdom by the name of Hyrule. The kingdom resided in a valley, carefully caressed by two mountain ranges: one that led to Ordon Village in the east while the other surrounded Kamiki village in the west. Kamiki village laid nestled in its grove of beautiful cherry blossoms. However, the kingdom of Hyrule was under the control of a dreadful beast that threatened all its residents, called Orochi. Each and every year, Hyrule would offer up one of its maidens to satiate the appetite of this eight-headed demon serpent every year at the festival that the King had to conduct.
Near the time of the festival, a mysterious white wolf appeared near the outskirts of Kamiki village. The wolf was known as Shiranui, a Japanese term given to the optical or supernatural phenomenon. Its white coat was as brilliant as snow. Every day and night, the wolf would keep a close watch on the villagers, sometimes wandering around all of Hyrule. Some people thought of the wolf to be familiar of Orochi.
In Ordon Village, a young boy of ten years, known by the name of Link, was living and working as a ranch hand. Link is a long eared Hylian, and wore a green tunic, a white undershirt, and a long, floppy green cap. He noticed a few days before the yearly festival, as did the other villagers, the fearsome wolf standing in the shadows of the dreaded forest. He took it upon himself to finally face Shiranui. He approached the wolf one night and attempted to challenge it. However, Shiranui was too clever and the wolf’s quick movements thwarted Link’s attempts. Link then returned home in despair and humiliation.
Soon, it was finally the night before the dreaded festival. Hyrule held its breath when the white arrow sent by Orochi proclaimed the upcoming sacrifice. Link felt enraged and distraught when the arrow struck the house of his friend, Llia, the daughter of the chief of Ordon Village. Link was then determined to finally defeat Orochi. He later left Ordon Village and traveled to the cave of the beast to put an end to Orochi and his treachery.
Link finally reached the Moon Cave, which served as the demon’s home. He stood boldly before the eight-headed serpent, not daring to look in the eight pairs of crimson red eyes. Link pulled out his sword along with his shield and headed towards the beast, using his sword to try to inflict any sort of injury upon the beast out of his anger. However, Orochi’s hide was like steel and Link’s efforts left nary a scratch.
At long last, Link dropped to his knees in fatigue and out of breath when suddenly Shiranui came out of nowhere from the shadows, standing in between the blood thirsty Orochi and the exasperated and weary Link. He watched as the wolf suddenly leapt at Orochi. He backed away when one of Orochi’s heads reared up and spewed out a large blast of fire. However, the wolf stood its ground. It jumped a little and somehow summoned large gusts of wind that countered the serpent’s attack. Then another one of its heads came up from behind for another hit, but a tree suddenly appeared before the serpent, shielding the white wolf from another one of Orochi’s dangerous assault.
After a while of fighting, the wolf struggled to stand up before Orochi. Its body was covered in gashes and its brilliant white coat covered with blood. Orochi reared its heads, readying its fangs for attack, but Shiranui, too, reared its head and howled towards the heavens. The dark clouds that hung oppressively low soon dissipated, revealing the full moon. Link held up his sword that glistened in the light, a beacon of hope.
Link then approached Orochi once again, his sword held high. He used all his strength to slash at the eight heads of the demon. One by one, the heads of the demon were separated from the carcass.
Orochi’s heads lay scattered across the ground, lying in a puddle of its own blood. The curse over the kingdom of Hyrule was then lifted. However, Shiranui was badly injured. The wolf struggled to stand up, dying from Orochi’s poison. Link scooped Shiranui into his arms and carried the wolf back to Ordon Village.
When they returned, Shiranui was no longer moving. Link set the wolf down in front of all the villagers and stroked its head with a tear in his eye. Shiranui gave out a low and pitiful bark before it closed its eyes for the last time.
Ordon Village finally enjoyed a long era of peace and tranquility. In dedication to the white wolf Shiranui, the villagers made a shrine in dedication to the wolf’s heroic deeds that included a statue of the wolf within it. Link’s sword, the one he used to finally defeat Orochi, was placed inside the Moon Cave and Hyrule waited for endless peace.
However, this is not the end of the story…

Seven years passed since Link and Shiranui defeated Orochi. It happened so quickly that none of the villagers even took notice.
Deep within the forest way beyond Ordon Village was the mysterious Moon Cave, which, according to legend, was the home to the terrifying Orochi. The cave itself was contained in pure darkness. No one, except for Link and Shiranui, has ventured within its depths. However, an evil man of the desert stumbled upon the cave’s entrance. His horse stopped before the cave and reared up on its hind legs. The man held on tightly to the reins as to not fall off. He jumped off the horse and carefully approached the entrance of the cave. His crimson eyes of ambition scanned the cave with complete interest. His eyes scanned over a sword that was stuck in a rock before him. A sneer played upon his dried and cracked lips.
He slowly walked towards the sword and said to himself, “Is this the sword that was used to defeat Orochi?” He placed his hand on the handle of the blade. “No, that’s not true. It is only a legend. Nothing but a fairy tale!”