Hoshor Plains heaven-candle

masa sits alone. nothing yet. while he sits as still as the mountains just overhead, inside turmoil threatens to pierce through the samurai's armor. where had she gone, has she already been killed? has he been silently exhiled for failing to be the one to kill her and that's why he has yet to hear word?

those demons only worsen as the scent of blood wafts towards his breath — as if her corpse lay just nearby, but the foolish samurai never noticed until now. it's only when footsteps break through the grassy plains that catches his eye, and he realizes it the blood was that of a rabbit caught in the jaws of his smaller packmate.