Tranquil waters rested before her, their surface still and accompanying scenery peaceful albeit brisk as winter had begun to get comfortable already. She exhaled slowly. Her breath billowed, hung on the brisk air a moment then dissolved to the atmosphere. Again, she drew a measured breath. Held it fast, then..

The greens of her eyes so subtly ringed in samsara shone as she opened them suddenly. They were awash with grief and determination despite the tranquility of her countenance. Mizuna, she whispered. She sat still with her front paws together, her hind legs tucked neatly beneath her and her tail curled around to her front paws. This lake.. she had come here for respite at first then stayed in meditative silence as the late afternoon continually wore on. The first traces of sunset already began to streak the skies Anata ga inakute sabishīdesu, she muttered, the syllables barely separating in her muddled speech.

It had taken her too long to muster up the words, even if they were only spoken to the lake and nothing more. She sighed and frowned intensely. Anata ga nokoshite itanode, soreha sa rete iru mono kimyōna jikan, she shook her head, almost bemused with herself. Shikashi, ima no watashiwomite.. Talking to herself here alone with no real allegiance to her name or cause to devote to aside from her own selfish plans. She had nothing to protect save for the hide stretched over her nimble bones.

She felt torment lately. By the delayed grief and by the struggles nature put before her all intertwined into one ugly foe. Her focus was difficult to find because of this. She had yet to find her purpose. Nothing had been accomplished besides basal survival. Amekaze knew she possessed the means for better and swallowing hard, she rose to stand and shook out her untamed furs.

And then, she slung back her head. A low note howled forth and gained tempo steadily. For you, sister, she sang while the sounds shook her chest and strengthened. For you, my heart. Amekaze squeezed shut her eyes and as suddenly as it had began, the howl concluded.

The skies were stained in orange now that bled to red and at its edges, purple. These colors reflected in the lake and the surface rippled far from shore. The fledgling sage glanced that way, squinted, then in a sweeping motion assumed an ambling walk along the bank. Her head hung low, nose aimed towards the earth and her scruffy furs assumed their half-mast positions to complete her look of roguish company.

She might have appeared as if she were searching for something, but for what it was, she could not say.

Perhaps now she could move with a lighter step. So was the hope, anyway, as she collected her thoughts and composure in tandem. Amekaze preferred not to express too much too openly. Thus her enigmatically chilly demeanor. It was easier this way and she understood why clearly. There were times when it was just too intense, too much to contain, and it scattered her thoughts so badly that there were times when she feared she may not be able to pick up the pieces.

Her ears were quick to attention and her neck straightened not long after; a reply sounded. From nearby, too, and the dark Rikudōu's hackles shifted in response as a chill shuddered across her skin. She listened keenly, despite it not being the voice she had truly wants to hear after this (for that was impossible here and now) and she turned towards the source in search. Who was this and perhaps more importantly, why.

She saw the dark wolf already, who now lingered not far from the treeline, then purposeful strides took her closer. She wondered how long she had been here undetected. Amekaze knew nothing of the other and thus, she was guarded. Her only greeting for now came as a low whuff then a steadied pause during which she observed to gauge this wolf's temperament and reaction to Ame's presence. I had not anticipated a response of any sort, she quipped dryly and stood tall.

To the question posed by her fellow dark-furred female, Amekaze's eyes narrowed somewhat. The true answer was perhaps indicative of momentary weakness, she believed, for despite knowing that the ears meant to hear this song were long gone from this world, she sang with her heart nonetheless. An uncharacteristically expressive notion for her, sure.

However she did not feel inclined to answer in whole truth. Tch, why not? she huffed and switched her tail idly. Just to hear my voice, perhaps.. she answered in deadpan with a squint that suggested this was all the more she would answer. It had been a song for her sister but this stranger did not need to know.

In an effort to steer the focus away from herself, she intended to turn the inquiries back onto her. You. You smell of the voodoo wolves, yes? Her muzzle scrunched even before she spoke it. Bon Dye? The words were still foreign on her tongue and just as awkwardly handled as they had been with Pied. Amekaze was curious of them and this was now her second wolf of their ranks to encounter.

She narrowed her eyes and maintained her frown -- a typical expression. Self-loathing or not, she did not care for the particularities of why she had howled. Amekaze did not answer. She did not feel like it warranted one, anyway, for her cause and purpose only truly mattered to her.

Listening on, she shifted her stance. The other seemed relaxed. Amekaze mirrored this feeling only somewhat. She stayed standing for now, though with her weight shifted to her left, she looked much less coiled and tense now. I see. Well I know little of your pack. I do not assume you are all steeped in the voodoo practices, but I had heard such associated with the pack before. Hence her assumption, incorrect or not and she huffed softly to mark the end of her words. Nevertheless, the dark female seemed happy enough with her home. Amekaze knew that their numbers dwindled (or had been when she had met Pied), so perhaps it was not all bad there. She did not ask.

Hai she replied in affirmation, naturally guessing that the nod of her head with the syllable indicated that despite the language, it still meant yes. Amekaze tried not to let her tongue slip often, though. No pack has captured my interests enough to gain my loyalty, she added, nearly adding "yet" to the end. However, a significant piece of her loyalty did remain in the distant mountains still. Bit by bit she was coping without it and knew a pack would likely be necessary soon.

Amekaze did not wish to join one that did not promise to keep her interests met and so far, she could not guarantee that packs here would do so. What brings you here? Did the forests of the Bon Dye wolves not entertain them well enough to keep them at home? Or did Amekaze just have a penchant for running into them out here in the neutral lands?

Once more, she was quiet and stoic for hearing that the voodoo pack was open to new membership came as little surprise. Amekaze knew little of them still and none of it was enough to particularly sway her in their favor. This was not to say this couldn't change, but speaking of now, she felt indifferent towards them. At least the wolves of the pack she had met so far seemed.. alright on the surface. Normal enough, too, not poised on the brink of war like wolves she had known before.

Then, she received a name to match to this face. Although Amekaze didn't find being on a no-name basis to be manner-less, she knew that was not usually how others felt. I am Ame, she replied with a small downward tilt of her muzzle. As I said, no packs have interested me enough to join yet, although I still only know little, so this may change soon enough. Truthfully, she had not seriously considered the whole pack idea until relatively recently. With that said she gave Vires a loaded look, halfway curious if she would speak further on Bon Dye or let it go.

She "hff-ed" softly, a noise halfway between a snort and a chuff, and reluctantly nodded. Vires's answer was.. vague enough still. Amekaze could not decide what to make of it. Well whatever the case, you are the second Bon Dye wolf I have known. I usually stay more to the North in the wetlands, but hunting has fared marginally better here. I seem to keep running into your sort; it must be meant to be, she said.

Amekaze nodded. It means rain, she added with a noncommittal chuff. Although not her whole name, it suited her well enough to work just fine shortened. Amekaze fitted her best in battle where she existed with the strength of the driving wind for which she was named, whereas Ame worked for the day to day, more like a typical uneventful rainshower instead.

Eventually, she saw it fit to lower her rump to the ground and sit finally, as Vires had done moments earlier. The mottled-fur Pied, she answered simply. We hunted. Amekaze had little else to say about the female unless she was asked for more detailing and Vires' question had her thinking ahead quickly instead. Ame would be choosy about what she shared. I came from Mount Rikudōu. My birthplace, she began. Perhaps pride shone in her verdant eyes, but she aimed to remain stoic. She missed the mountain still.

I do not know what all you care to hear of, she added while curling her tail around her paws. For her almost-two years, she believed she had gathered a decent tale already, even if most of it seemed to be colored by strife. My parents were important wolves, although I was closest to my okāsama -- my mother. Amekaze paused and her expression drew into a gradually deepening frown. With her I trained, learned to war early and fought for peace. And despite their victories on the fields of battle, she still weathered more losses than she cared for. The subject of Mizuna was skirted, conveniently.

Amekaze had always recognized her parents as Alphas, unrivaled and unparalleled in the regions they reigned in, yet she knew her mother to not always take up all the typical duties entailed. She left them to her father... which had always seemed readily accepted by him, who was more than content to rule his aspects while she did hers. Amekaze had realized the balance they had struck early on in her life, for despite their differences as wolves themselves, apart they were not as strong as they were together. She knew they realized this as well.

Yes she affirmed with a nod. Very much so. Missing her was another big part of why Amekaze still favored the mountains so much. I spent much of my time with her, especially once I became her apprentice in sēji as well. I was also close to my younger siblings because of this, but never my surviving littermates. Two of her siblings had died very early, so soon that remembering them was difficult at times, but the two had had survived were unforgettable.

They had established themselves as at odds early in life, which Amekaze had deemed as inevitable. Always they had been like two opposing forces and unlike their parents, Amekaze had never been able to find the balance between them and herself. She believed they hadn't wanted it that way either, for nothing they had done had ever made her feel that to be so. Regardless, it was of little consequence here and now. And what of you, Vires? I assume your history has spanned further than this place alone.

Amekaze listened in thoughtful quiet. So Vires came from a normal life, whatever that truly entailed, and loved her family. Her own upbringing had always felt normal to her, even if it was not typical. She had never known any different and could not envision her being who she was today without it, the good and the bad both.

Then her ears angled back as she tilted her head a few scarce degrees. Vires' words of searching for an unknown resonated alarmingly well with her. She shifted her weight and was reminded the words she held so near and dear to her heart, 'I hope you learn what true strength is'.. Still, Amekaze did not know how to find that. I suppose I could say I left for similar reasons. Putting it into words was not easy either. It felt like such an abstract concept still, despite her efforts to understand exactly how to approach this. I think one day I will return to the mountain but I cannot say when. I do not want to go back until I have gained something.. important, her expression furrowed. The question remained how she would find it.

There were times when she wondered what it would be like had she never left. Perhaps nothing would have truly changed about her and she would just be there instead of here right now, but deep in her heart of hearts, she had felt a leave necessary. After Mizuna's death and once the avenging was done, she had felt that getting away was best -- otherwise, she may have spiraled into nothingness and an unfitting existence.

Amekaze exhaled a sigh and agreed. Indeed. I seek something so abstract, too, and it has not been easy to know how to approach this.. need. She understood feeling lost, despite never wishing to admit it freely. However, my travels have provided much that staying on the mountain could never have.. she rolled her shoulders and resigned to believe this, despite missing her birthplace. Her time had not been wasted.

Do you think you will find what you desire here? Amekaze did not specify how near or far "here" was meant to encompass and left that to Vires. She often wondered the same for herself, as she had evidently come to find a home here in this immediate region despite not having a singular territory to tie herself down.