Whether they were hostile or not was not the issue. It was whether or not they could give him clues to a weakness or location on Naraku that mattered. If he could only lure one out of the miasma.. He seemed to ignore Katuriina's short speech and continued to walk, when in fact he had listened. It was true, fighting them probably would be pointless, and until he knew for sure they were incarnations and not just another creature that could survive the miasma, he would take no action. He prowled around until he was on the other side of the valley's crown and glanced at Katuriina once again.

"Can your winds blow a portion of the miasma out of the way?" The creatures seemed to have taken no notice of them even thought Sesshoumaru had been purposefully noisy in his steps. It seemed he would have to pluck one.

Catrina smiled thinking that she was going to be useful to her crush.
"Of course I can get them to. Here I go." she said as she started to run fast picking up a cyclone as she did. Just like she and Lord Sesshomaru had thought some of the Miasma cleared away. Just enough for Catrina to have fullfilled what Sesshomaru wanted.
"There you go. Just like you asked." she told him with a grin. She was very happy to be able to help and to be of use to the mighy dog demon.

Sesshoumaru wasted not a second and slipped in behind Katuriina. As soon as the way was clear, he darted in and plucked one of the smaller creatures up, dragging it back out of the miasma. A nod was his thanks to the wolf girl for now. He watched in amazement as the creature writhed and screamed, shriveling up and dying in Sesshoumaru's grasp. He dropped the lifeless corpse and it broke on the rocks. "...Interesting." He slid his eyes over to Katuriina. "Thoughts?"

Is it alright if I join?

Catrina thought for a sec. The demon seemed to dye as soon as it was out of the miasma.
"Well, it seems Naraku made them so that they could survive only in Miasma. He probably did that so people wouldn't come near him or his incarnations." she told him. She wasn't exactully suure, but her idea seemed to make sence. Not to many people could stand it in Miasma. She hoped she was right.

dye is to color something die is to decease, to pass exactully= exactly)

Sesshoumaru gave a slight nod as if he agreed. "Guards against those powerful enough to survive exposure to the miasma." -A defense against me- he thought to himself, for he was the only demon he knew to be powerful enough to survive prolonged exposure to the noxious vapors. Was there something here Naraku didn't want found? He examined the crater again, forming a plan.

"Clear up as much of the miasma as you are able to." -There is something I wish to see-

Catrina bowed to him.
"As you command my lord." she said. She started to run and kicked up her cyclone once more.She ran and ran blowing more Miasma away until her energy was almost gone. She then stopped and, as she panted from being worn out, looked at Sesshomaru.
"Is that enough? What exatly are you wanting to see?" Catrina asked quietly.

There. Sesshoumaru spotted it, a crack in the crater floor where the miasma was seeping up and out. A the mountain shook as the creatures started screaming, shriveling and dying. He could sense power building beneath them, about to unleash, more than likely causing an explosion. Quick as a flash, he darted through the clean air and snatched Katuriina up in his arm, wrapping it around her waist and holding her tightly against him to leave her arms free if she needed to use them.

He watched as the crater filled with miasma again, and the withered-what he thought were dead- things swelled back to their original shapes and got back up. An eyebrow rose a tad. This was new..

Catrina stared in shock at this. This was new. Totally not something she expected. She wrapped her arms around Sesshomaru's neck as he held her.
"They are alive. Also the miasma is back. How is that even possible?" Catrina asked. She then started to cough.
"Crap! Did I take in to much of the poison from the Miasma?" Catrina asked through coughing.

Sesshoumaru leapt smoothly out of reach of the misama and set Katuriina on her feet. He looked her over, examining her with his eyes to see if she was, indeed, poisoned. If so, all he knew to do-sadly- was rest and her body should fight it off. ..If she was strong enough.

Creatures that lived in the miasma, probably fed on it as well, and could summon it. Useful if one needed a constant cloud of it to protect or hide.. Knowing Naraku, protect. If he wanted to hide something, Naraku was very good at hiding it in plain sight, so it was unlikely there was something of amazing value here. Still, it warranted investigation. First, however, he would be sure Katuriina would recover. If need be, he could always drop her back off at the cave with Rin, A and Un and Jaken.

"...Will you recover?"

It was then he remembered that Katuriina was one of the very few people he actually said more than seven words to ...without planning to kill them.

Catrina looked over at Sesshomaru while trying not to cough that much.
"I'll be fine Lord Sesshomaru." she told him quietly.
"All I need is a little rest." she told him as she sat down and tried to keep her brething in control. The poison wasn't that bad since she was a full demon so she would be okay after a little bit. She then realized what her master and crush had asked her.
"He is worried about me. Could it be true? No, I am only his henchmen ready to fight for his will. He could never like me." she thought to herself as she looked weakily at Lord Sesshomaru.

Sesshoumaru gave a slight nod and returned to watching the miasma re-fill the crater. He did not think it possible that creatures-Naraku's or not- could simply exude miasma, there had to be a store within the mountain. This hypothesis was supported by his remembering seeing a crack in the floor of the crater when Katuriina had cleared the clouds away. But miasma couldn't just form in in solid rock, there had to be a chamber. Where there was a chamber, there was an entrance, with mountains it was usually a cav-

Rin.

His mind instantly switched to Rin and her safety. He had left her and the others in a cave. Could it be an entrance? He turned and retreated back down the mountain. Katuriina would follow when she was able, he figured. Back down to the cave...only to find it empty and laced with the scent of miasma. Sesshoumaru almost sighed outwardly. Did Naraku ever get tired of kidnapping the girl? Their scents also led into the forest a ways off. Had they escaped there? He would only think they would be that smart. Another quick sniff at the forest and he turned to delve inside the cave, see where it led. His nose was almost useless in here with the miasma clogging it, but his eyes were fine in the almost nonexistent light.

Catrina waited for a couple of muinuites letting her body rest up. She saw Sesshmaru go down the mountain. She wondered what he could be thinking about. She was able to get up and she started down the mountain also. She made it to where the cave that Rin and the others had been at and noticed that they were gone.
"Naraku! Did he kidnapp her again?" Catrina thought. It was true that Naraku was always trying to lead Sesshomaru into things by taking Rin. It happened many times before. She then smelled them again in the woods and she saw Sesshomaru go into the cave. She went in the cave and found him.
"Lord Sesshomru, Rin and the others sents are in the woods. Should I go see if there okay?" she asked him.

"They are safe." he said simply. If there was any real danger, he knew A and Un would take them up high, out of reach. He continued down the cavern, the stench of miasma and death growing stronger with each step he took, but he kept his hand down. He didn't need to breathe very often if he was just walking, so there was no need to cover his nose, and he needed his hand free....just in case.

Soon, light could be seen illuminating the walls. It seemed he was correct, there WAS a cavern deeper inside; and, as he came upon the tall opening to said cavern, it was filled with miasma.

And a writhing mass of demons. Quickly, Sesshoumaru glanced around, looking for the all-too-familiar head that would indicate this as Naraku assimilating other demons into his damaged body. He didn't see it. So what was this? Another pet project? He crackled his claws. Sesshoumaru could slay it now and be done with it....or-even more tempting-he could let it progress and see what it became. Perhaps the creature would provide him with a challenge. He relaxed his fingers and turned to head back out of the cave.

Kagura would be welcome if people are reading and want to join)

Catrina looked around at the cave filled with miasma. She tried her best not to breath in too much of the miasma that was surrounding her and Sesshomaru. She looked up at Sesshomaru, her eyes filled with wonder at the handsome dog demon. Unlike her, he was able to handle the misma so much better. She was just a weakling compared to him. His brilliant moves and how reacted under pressure amazed the wolf demon to no end. She wondered why neither Kagura nor any other incarnations of Naraku were hear where this place deffinately had something to do with the Hainyo Naraku. She heard Seshomaru move and head towards the entrace of the cave. He seemed to have given this place up so she walked next to him towards the caves entrance.

As Sesshoumaru left the cave and slipped into the trees to his waiting group, he wondered...why hadn't he smelled the miasma in the cave before? It seemed so obvious to him now, but.. Even his ever-keen nose had missed it. Had he not been paying enough attention? No, he was ALWAYS paying attention, especially to scents. So what was it? Was this place enchanted with some spell he could not sense? Perhaps it had been the other scents in the cave or... maybe he was being overly confidant again. It was entirely possible. It was difficult to not be arrogant when one was as great as this Sesshoumaru. He would not let it happen again. He ran through various scenarios of what could have happened and shivered at the thought of one, one that he shoved to the deep recesses of his mind.

He would not think of it again.

Rin and Jaken were already on A and Un's back, the twin-headed dragon ready to take off. Ever efficient, he had chosen his followers well. He glanced back idly to see if Katuriina was following. She was, as he expected. He paused and turned to her, blinking once with those sharp, golden eyes.

"I am returning to the ruins of my father's castle."

It was an invitation. The very fact that he had even told her was proof of it. Even Rin understood that and she leaned to get a look at the wolf-demoness. Was she hurt? Had Sesshoumaru-sama not found what he had wanted here?

Catrina was lost in thought as she walked away from the cave and walked to where Rin and the others were. She wondered how she hadn't noticed the miasma before. She might of not had as keen of smell as her brother Koga or Lord Seshomaru, but she should have been able to. She then realized that Sesshomaru hadn't smelled the scent either. It was really rare and almost impossible for that to happen. It did though. She thought about it for a little bit and then she snapped back to attaention when Sesshomaru told her he was going to his fathers grave.
"As you wish my lord. I will be right there with you." she told him with a smile as she looked over at Rin. The young girl was looking at the demoness looking worried. She walked over to her and picked the child up in her arms.
"I am alright Rin. Do not worry about me." she told her softly. She then turned to Sesshomaru.
"Shall we be on our way my lord?" she asked him.