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.