Bearclaw Valley shizukana kaze

@Drust

The opulent ceremony had lasted a fortnight! Longer than Keiko ever intended to be away. She packed up her things - notably the ocelot pelt and the blue lapis stones – and said her farewells to @Eset and then other retainers of the summer palace. Then, she began her journey from Muat-Riya back to Hokkyokusei-sama’s paradise.

However, a squall of snow derailed the Miko and she lost her way in the Tarns. Fatigued and hungry, she began to question whether she would have the strength to make it back!

However, good fortune was on her side. Keiko found the entrance to the valley and nearly collapsed when she saw the shrine. However, deep claw marks scored the once pristine wood.

“Hokkyokusei-sama?” Keiko called out, worried and frightened.

The bear had awoken in the late morning, undisturbed by the fleeting moments of what little sunlight still shined into the valley. Grey clouds were beginning to overtake the sky and light flakes of snow drifted through the air. A dismal affect hung around Drust and further seeped in as days continued to pass.

He could have lain beside the shrine all day had it not been for a grumble in his stomach. Slowly rising he shook off the layer of snow that had built up over his pelt and roamed into the wood. 

It was early evening before he managed to root out a fattened raccoon. Carrying it loosely in his jaws he began walking back, a fragment of himself would have him cache it, despite his less than full belly and previous morsels that had nearly rotted waiting for a patron that had not shown.

The memory of her melody played faintly in his mind perpetually, so much so that to hear it again initially perplexed him.

Was it another trick? Or was this based in reality?

'Hokkyokusei-sama?' 

A call... no... her cry out rang through the valley. 

Instinctively his muscles tightened and his grip on the strip-tailed creature clamped down before the towering giant raced towards the sound.

A large tree root nearly tripped him up and the branches from trees whipped cross his face and coat, but did not slow him.

Then as he approached the edge of the wood and she came into view his run turned to a gallop, then a jog, before he stopped right as he entered the clearing and laid eyes on her. Oblivious that his jaw had opened and dropped the coon at his feet.

Sorry for my delays! Keiko was giving me writers block!

Keiko’s echo faded as she looked around the snowy forest. For a long while the winter woods were silent, though her ears pricked to catch any sound. Then, thundering footsteps crescendoed in volume as a great creature approached.

The fur along her back prickled in anticipation. Hoping, but not knowing, if it was Kami-sama or a mountain black bear that made such mighty sounds.

Yet, when Hokkyokusei-sama’s form materialized from between the trees, Keiko thought she might cry with happiness. Her smile squeezed her cheeks so hard that tears beaded in the corners of her dark eyes.

“Tadaima,” she said enthusiastically – informally! For to be with Hokkyokusei-sama felt like…

Keiko caught her thoughts. Then, she slipped the pack of her belongings from her whithers to the ground. However, fatigue had made Keiko incredibly weak and she fell to one knee just as the ocelot pelt landed in the snow.

All good. Holidays will do that to ya

'Tadaima'

The note hummed through the air and the greatest smile arose on her face. 

The sun shined again and threatened to melt the snow around him. Hitting his chest first his heart beat sending waves through his body that awoke a light sway in his tail and blushed the skin atop his cheeks hidden beneath his white fur.

Tadaima... Tadaime... Tadaime... It played in his mind. Certain it was the sweetest note he'd heard yet.

Until suddenly a scratch interrupted the orchestra. 

Keiko fell to the ground. A single leg held her up as a feline pelt and blue stones rolled out onto the snow. 

A shocked and concerned grunt erupted from the beast as he rushed to the Miko. The fallen trinkets did not capture Drust's attention. It remained firmly locked on the priestess. 

Bearish mumbles fell from his mouth as he looked at her with a puzzled look on his face.

Slowly, he circled her entire body. Examining her. Gently caressing his muzzle through the fur along her sides and any potential areas of concern. A thorough inspection. No injuries. She felt so... soft and delicate. Fragile... and vulnerable.

Returning to face her he, gazed into her dark eyes and hesitantly paused a moment. Before reaching down and tenderly pressing his forehead against hers, breathing a sigh of relief.