Blackfeather Woods 青

@Clover @Masa @Shinjou @Ryūjirō @Kikyo (if he is close!) please let clover post first <3

"do not be afraid."

this is easier said than done, kaede understands. but if the fox turns to run, the samurai may follow.

he belonged to her now. and for the time being, she herself belonged to masa.

"bow."

the lady stands alone with the fox in the dark wood. she calls to the samurai and the lord, asking that they come with delicate sentiment.

and when masa appears, it is a low bow which greets him, forehead pointed to earth.

The fox trailed behind for some time, and he let the distance between them grow shorter as his confidence grew. He was fairly certain by now he was not in any danger. At least, none from the purple-eyed stranger. 

She stopped, and he did as well. She spoke at him, but he did not understand. Instead, he watched. When she bowed, so did he. 

The stench of wolf here was strong. It was no longer just the female companion, but a multitude. 

He fought the instinct to flee. He probably would have, had she not been generous enough to feed him.

samurai arrives upon long black legs, cloaked in scars and grey. passing tourmaline stare over kaede, to whom he dips his head with deep reverence and pause.
then to... the fox. kitsune. there is no visible sign of what crosses the mind of the man when he lays eyes upon the thing. but within his mind, there is only curiosity. omen, trickster, messenger—he does not know which it may be. but he knows better than to draw blade where wisdom urges stillness.
he is a man of honor. there is no honor in striking the clever, the small, the sacred. masa is silent for some time, before he speaks.
i greet you. a clear of his throat. i am, strong slip of quick-tongued accent, akashita masa. who stands before me?

Yet another pariah creature found by the roadside. Shinjou did not draw near—he had crossed paths before with Nogitsune and other wicked incarnations of those cunning Kitsune, and he had no wish to relive such encounters. This one appeared trained, perhaps even docile, but they were masters of deception and illusion. Young Lady Kaede, no doubt too naïve to see through it, was likely already enthralled—ensnared by the wiles of this sly beast.

Shinjou kept his distance. A few paces behind his lord, his ears pressed flat against his neck, he stood apart while the others played along with the charade—bowing, exchanging pleasantries with the creature—he, meanwhile, was gripped by fear.

Kaede-san, Masa-dono... he called, his lips drawn tight, scarcely able to meet the cursed creature’s gaze. Be careful. These beings are deceitful! he warned, voice firm with conviction. As for him, he wished to know nothing of the beast—neither its name nor its purpose—for all of it reeked of falsehood and lies.

no posting order! anyone can hop in at any time <3

kaede understands that those of her lands do not always welcome the kitsune.

shinjou's reticence is normal, then. natural.

their discomfort is why kaede desires to have the fox at all.

beside her, the small creature too is bowing.

at this, a smile is hidden.

"masa-sama. he does not speak. i mean to have him for my kouri."

slowly her eyes raise as she speaks, lashes unveiling her eyes with a deliberate glimpse for masa alone.

kaede is deliberate. by stating her intent, she reasserts herself not only as lady, but of a raised rank, one which demands that she be attended.

masa-sama. does he find her beautiful? by now she has dropped her gaze away again in humility. 

it is a game. and it is not a game. only a lord can recognize her in the ways she wished to be named. a slender hand outstretched for a gift, and his reward is the impossible sakurasou depth of her eyes.

these samurai will tire of bounties. they will wish to settle, she believes, and when that moment comes, she will be prepared to step into an even higher role.

soft palms take what the samurai grant, but kaede does not intend to give until she must.

The fox remained this way, bowing beside his companion. There was no understanding, only mimicry. Two more wolves, and the little fox’s heart rate quickened. For a moment, only, and fangs never came. 

Then they spoke, the larger one first. Introducing himself, words the fox could comprehend. 

He moved to answer, cut off briefly by the other wolf. The smaller one. The wolf almost looked scared.

Kaede-san… that must have been her name. He recognized Masa.. and the wolf appeared to be addressing them. He would ask, he decided. 

She spoke, her dialect familiar now, but meant nothing to the fox. 

”I am called Clover,” he said, meeting Akashita Masa’s gaze for a moment, before retreating once again to Kaede’s familiar purple gaze. But hers remained fixed on the big wolf, and then the ground. 

Something there was hidden..