Lore of the Wild, Part Two: Eden-Bound

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis closed his eyes as Skofnung described the surroundings to the city. Visualizing it in his mind. Aramis had a vivid imagination. It kind of came with the territory. He'd spent his entire childhood cooped up in either a lab or a supply closet, so he had been forced to use his imagination to picture what was happening outside that little space. While he acknowledged it unlikely his mental image would be accurate, he did have a knack for detail so it was likely he'd place the important features in about the right spot. "I see. Well that's to be expected I suppose." He noted. Mentally assessing the defensive viability and offensive viability of such a location. Stealth was useless, this was true, but the plains were not the most defensible of locations. Without air ground, placing it at the top of a hill or valley would have been a truly difficult point to attack. It spoke to the lack of natural predators and conflict in this world. Or a showing of strength. That the denizens of the city didn't feel the need. "Any water bodies nearby? Or do you think the city would be massive enough to enclose around one?" He added, out of scientific curiosity.

As they discussed this, Aramis briefly felt a spike of killing intent from Tsukuyomi. Aramis's eyes slowly opened and he fixed Tsukuyomi with a baleful stare. It wasn't accusatory. Not angry. Not worried. It was the same, soul piercing stare. If you could ascribe a form of dialogue to a stare, this one would be monotone. It was a drilling stare, that in a purely academic sense was no different than how Aramis normally looked at things. And yet there was a certain pressure behind this one. Like Aramis was staring right into the Vice Captain's mind. Aramis held this stare for several long moments, even if Tsukuyomi wasn't looking his way, until that feeling of killing intent subsided. Then Aramis returned his full attention to Skofnung. Aramis had been making a point to Tsukuyomi. But with no words exchanged, Tsukuyomi was free to determine what that point was. Still. It was clear that Aramis had not missed the man's murderous thoughts. What Tsukuyomi did with that knowledge was up to him.

"I have prepared amply." Aramis stated, in answer to both Skofnung and Senshi's statements. He possessed an unnatural hardiness, and food and water wouldn't be as much an issue for him as it would be for Senshi. Hell was not the best place to search for food, and so its denizens were rather required to go extremely long periods without it. Granted, as Aramis was only half Akki, he still needed it, but he could make do with less. He'd get hunger pains and the like, of course, but he could continue functioning at least. He expected the same would hold true for Tsukuyomi. Aramis allowed Senshi to depart, before standing and brushing himself off. "I am prepared to leave whenever we are ready. I look forward to seeing what this world has to offer."

[Zeich Yajuu]

Once everyone had been given a chance to get ready, the party set off. The Beast-Clansmen took the lead, with Aron taking point and Skofnung not too far behind him. Garath hung back a bit, closer to the Shinigami, while Vana simply vanished, scouting ahead and disappearing into the rolling hills. The Shinigami party would be at the back of the group, with Senshi covering the right flank as she intended and the other two spreading out as they would. The formation would have the more physically powerful Beast-Clansmen taking any attacks from behind, while the more spiritually-minded Shinigami would watch their flanks and back.

The start of the trip was fairly straightforward as they headed west-northwest along the hills. It didn’t take long, perhaps an hour of walking at most, to reach the jungle’s edge. The overgrowth was almost intimidating in its size, with grasses easily growing up to the shoulders of the Shinigami party, tall trees that towered far over all of them, and the dark canopy that lay ahead, filled with who knew what. Aron and Garath had casually brushed off the wildlife as having nothing but their size going for them, but the fact of the matter is that one of the two very capable guards had still managed to get injured. No doubt things were more serious than they thought.

One thing that they noticed in their travels, however, was the rapid shift in temperature. Even Senshi, who had doffed her outermost layer, would find herself sweating as they neared the jungle’s edge, and the other Shinigami fared no better. Even the Beast-Clansmen, clad in little comparatively, were clearly ill at ease due to their abundant fur. It wasn’t just the temperature, either; the humidity had shot up immensely, leaving the air feeling heavy and damp in addition to the heat. It was certainly an exhausting combination in any situation, and no doubt it did little to ease tempers. The start of the jungle was no better, either; if anything, it was worse. Despite the canopy keeping out most of the sunlight, it also trapped much of the moisture, leaving the air even more cloying than before.

Soon they were in the thick of the jungle, and it was surprisingly easy to get lost. The trees rising up around them all looked relatively similar, and the vines and overgrowth were so universally present that any direction looked like any other direction after about a half hour’s travel. The sun couldn’t be seen for the density of the trees, and though bits of sunlight pierced through to provide some hints of light, the whole place felt gloomy, especially with the oppressive heat.

As they traveled, Skofnung let himself fall back slightly, walking closer in time to Tsukuyomi. Though it was likely obvious to most people there that the Shinigami was ill-tempered at the moment despite his efforts to remain professional, it seemed that the Beast-Clansman leader was more sensitive to it, or at least more willing to address it than the others. “Vice-Captain—” Tsukuyomi’s title was likely used simply because of his ire at the moment, “—do you mind if we talk for a bit? I did not get as good a chance to speak with you as my men did earlier, and I would like to learn more about you, if that’s alright. Knowing your allies is the first step to strengthening an alliance, after all.”

As though an unspoken message had been sent between them, Aron chose at that moment to speak up to the other two Shinigami. “Captain Aramis, Senshi, would you two be up to join me for a bit of hunting? Your companion will be safe here with Garath and Skofnung—if anything, they’re safer with his presence. I figure the two of you would like to see first-hand what the animal life is like here, particularly for a scientific mind like yours, Captain. Why don’t you follow me?” With that, the leonine Beast-Clansman started off in a different direction, into the denser bushes, leaving the others to follow behind.

After about ten minutes of traveling, Aron paused, pointing up at a branch on a nearby tree. “Ah, there’s a good start for our hunt.” The other two would see a large hole bored into trunk by the base of the branch, easily big enough that one of the two Shinigami could probably squeeze in by stooping over, though the larger Aron would probably have a harder time getting inside. Colored feathers were obvious around the edges of the opening, likely belonging to whoever dwelt there. “Doesn’t look like the prey’s home, but it may not be far. Senshi, why don’t you check over to the west; Aramis and I will check to the east.” Without waiting for an answer, the guard started off, gesturing for the Captain to follow him.

By this point, all three Shinigami had been separated, but it seemed that the separations had a purpose. Back at the camp, Skofnung was broaching the topic of Tsukuyomi’s anger. “Alright, Tsukuyomi, I’m going to be frank with you—we can all sense your anger like a simmering fire at our backs, and it’s not conducive to a cooperative effort when one party’s temper is flaring hotter than this accursed heat. I’ve sent your companions away, so you can be open; what is it that’s got you so riled up?” The Beast-Clansman leader was opening up a path for Tsukuyomi to vent, but the question is how the Shinigami would react; would be open up and simply talk about it, let his anger burst free, or push him away?

Meanwhile, Aramis was similarly being queried as he and Aron continued along a side path through the trees. “Well, Captain, you did request a private location to speak—I cannot think of a more private area than a jungle in the middle of an uncharted land, with your companions sent away. Skofnung has authorized me to speak to you regarding your ‘controversial’ nature, and as such, I am open to hearing what you have to say on the matter. It suggests that there is potentially more to your heritage than simply being the half-demon you are, and I have been asked to judge any further information much like when we first met. Should it be unsatisfactory, I will give you directions back to your camp and leave you to return on your own. So, feel free to start speaking.”

And finally, Senshi would be left alone to hunt, with no one around but herself. She was fortunate, too; not long after separating from the others, she would find a pair of colored feathers on the ground near the base of a tree. There was no gap in this one, however; it was likely just a stopping point in the creature’s travels. Still, it indicated she was going the right way, and would soon come across the prey they were supposed to be hunting.

Before long, she would spot exactly what they were looking for: a massive bird, easily as big as a person, sat perched on a sturdy-looking branch. It was a brilliantly-colored parrot, though its wingspan was much larger, and its beak looked sharp and predatory as opposed to the natural curve of a bird’s beak. Its eyes locked onto her, but it didn’t move; its claws merely clutched the branch a bit harder, biting into the wooden bark and digging deep furrows. It seemed that Senshi had found their prey, and hopefully their soon-to-be dinner: all that was left was actually killing or capturing it. How she did it was up to her, though she’d want to be careful not to do too much damage to their food for the night.

((OOC: Sorry about the long wait, life decided to flip my table and leave me picking up the pieces last week. Obviously, posts are not due this week, but will be due next Wednesday. Again, sorry for the delay!))

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis took note of the surroundings as they moved. His advanced physical and spiritual senses picking up what he could, from air currents, to reishi density. Even scents, distinct coloration of local flora. His mind worked tirelessly, to analyze and interpret the information all around him. The Nakabakki walked with his left arm behind his back, and his right stroking his chin in quiet contemplation. Multitudes of theories had begun to dance in his mind, equally creating and discarding them at a moment's notice, then retrieving them again for further consideration. While this place certainly did not meet Aramis's field of interest, it was still a very new experience to the very young Nakabakki. It was possible that Aramis was the youngest of this expedition in fact, not even being fifty years old yet.

When Vana vanished without a trace, Aramis began to play a new mental game. He extended and concentrated his senses again, this time to search for Vana. The Beast Clan had stealthily crept up on him before. He resolved not to allow her to do so again. This was not out of any idle competitive spirit. To a large extent, Aramis was lacking in such things, considering them distractions from his real work. In fact, that Aramis was bothering with this could be seen as a tremendous compliment to Vana. Her aptitude at stealth had impressed Aramis to the extent that he considered it a worthy use of his mental resources and time to try and detect her as she came back in range. Sharpening and practicing his senses against one clearly well trained in stealth. The Captain remained near the center of the group of Shinigami, his eyes seemingly glazed over, and he appeared inattentive betraying his intense focus on his exercises. In truth, it was less that Aramis wasn't paying attention, and more that he simply didn't care about anything that wasn't catching his immediate interest, or judging them as high priorities.

And then the humidity began to rise. Aramis's breath slowly grew heavier than before. It was a very subtle shift, that would likely escape the notice of his peers. But he had come to accept that the Beast Clan's senses and instincts were incredibly-- and perhaps even annoyingly, acute. He was reasonably certain they'd notice this change. Not, he expected, necessarily meaning they wouldn't be enduring similar conditions. The Nakabakki crossed his arms in front of him. While his black shinigami robes were certainly.... warm, and the Captain's haori he wore, making things even worse, Aramis found it duly, albeit twistedly ironic that his left arm was unaffected by the heat itself. Beneath the fully covering black robe, there was no swear. An interesting flaw in my father's work. He briefly considered. Though a convincing illusion that hid his Nakabakki heritage, that was all it was. An illusion of real, natural flesh. Beneath that disguise was a twisted limb of an Akki.

Dimly, Aramis noted that one of the others had addressed him by rank, and he looked to the Beast Clan that had. It was one of the guards that had stopped him. It seemed he wished to hunt. "...Very well." Aramis agreed, and accompanied him, along with Senshi into the deeper jungle. He was uncertain as to the wisdom of splitting the group. But well. Wisdom was not Aramis's strong suit. Intellect was. They were not necessarily intertwined. Still. Aramis conceded the point that it would be an educational experience. "Provided you believe your leader will be safe, I see no reason not to." He added, and followed along, missing the social implications and cues that would otherwise have indicated the real purpose for this trip.

Aramis remained largely silent for the trip, continuing his mental exercise of searching for any trace of Vana, until they came to the tree. "Will you be safe on your own, Miss Odayakama?" Aramis inquired, briefly, before being drawn along by Aron. Assuming Senshi did indeed part with the company, Aron, revealing the true reason for their expedition, would receive his answer.

"I see. Yes, this is quite private." Aramis said, changing the focus of his senses. He reached out with his spiritual senses to try and keep track of both Senshi and the group now, to monitor adjustments and fluctuations in their reiatsu. The range of Aramis's energy sensory was fairly extensive, and he trusted he would be able to sense if something happened to either the main group, or the young Vice Captain. "I promised you your answers, and so very well." Aramis drew back his sleeve on his left arm. Revealing-- at a glance, a completely ordinary arm. It very much resembled his right arm, save for what appeared to be a simple steel shackle around his wrist. Aramis slowly reached to the shackle and drew it from his limb. At once, the illusion, shielding his arm faded away, revealing what could best be described as a physical shadow in place of a limb. Five cruel digits that were truly, less fingers, and more akin to talons in the twisted mockery of a hand flexed quietly at the end of the black limb. It flickered, ebbed and shifted as Aramis walked, as though it were a living thing of its own accord, with a mind of its own. Rusted, rattling chains seemed to shift in and out of existence, binding the limb, as they twisted up towards Aramis's shoulder.

After giving Aron sufficient chance to see the demonic limb, and granting his own appendage a withering stare, Aramis slowly reapplied the shackle, covering it in the guise of a human limb once more. "While I was never divulged the full details of my heritage, I can sufficiently suggest that I am born of the creatures Soul Society has dubbed Akki. Escapees from Hell. From what I can gather from reports, one such creature forced itself upon the Shinigami that conceived me." He stated, matter-of-factly, using such a clinical method of describing something as sensitive as his own mother's rape. "Though I am rather different from Tsukuyomi. My father, Sayuri Bokuga, performed numerous experiments upon me, both to study my inherent nature, as well as to help me suppress it so that I could walk freely among Shinigami." He continued. "Something that your interrogation at the gates, may have jeopardized." He added, cuttingly.

Aramis allowed a pause.

"I do not hold this against you. My concerns are not yours. You performed your duty, as you required, and I will not fault you for that, nor allow it to strain my continued relations. You are concerned with your pack leader's safety, and you possessed the exceptional senses to detect the anomaly in my nature. For that, I commend you. You are the first to have ever done so." He continued in his sterile voice. "No doubt, however, you can detect Tsukuyomi's hostility. Even I have detected it, and I am not surprised in the least that he might react in such a way. Your people may be openly accepting of this ancestry, but Soul Society is not. Were knowledge of our condition to spread to other Shinigami, it is unquestionable the result would be prompt, if not immediate termination of our lives, as well as my career." Aramis noted, with a staggeringly misplaced sense of priority. "And I have done sufficient research into my own nature to acknowledge that the complete obliteration of our souls would be a mercy, compared to what awaits me by any other means of demise." He continued to walk, not allowing his senses to waver despite the distraction of conversation. "I am fortunate, that, as the Captain of the Research and Development division, as well as being the project of a previous Captain, my oddities may pass with criticism, though I may be forced to abandon my current paths of research. The nature of my abilities allows me to conceal the nature of my being quite well, as you may come to see before this journey is passed." Aramis mused.

"But Tsukuyomi is not so fortunate. He does not have the benefits that I do, and thus, he may have quite accurately, assessed your ferreting out of his true nature as a legitimate death sentence upon his return to Soul Society, given that the nature of his heritage was mentioned in my presence, and indeed he has confessed. The Kawadas are a brutally pragmatic family, that will offer him little protection, were this to come to light. They would readily disown one of their own to avoid shaming their family name, which is precisely what would occur if it were to be known that one of them possessed Hellish origins. To say nothing of what Miss Odayakama may have been told thus far, which may further complicate matters. No doubt, judging by his killing intent which I had felt earlier, he has conceived of the notion that I must not be permitted to return to Soul Society, and placed in a position that I could report this. Alternatively it may have adversely affected his fighting spirit. It is, perhaps, difficult for one who believes their fate is sealed, to put forth their greatest effort. Moral, I have found, is a tremendous factor in any given mission." Aramis concluded, notably avoiding his own thoughts on what exactly he planned to do about Tsukuyomi's condition upon their return. "As for myself, I too am faced with certain complications that my nature has been revealed at all, even under this guise. Tsukuyomi is aware that there is an aspect of Hell in my nature. Miss Odayakama may also have been privvy to certain facts." He added.

"However, as I have mentioned, this will not affect my relations with your tribe. These are my own matters to deal with, but perhaps it is that you might understand our reluctance to impart this information to you now, beyond simple personal shame." Of course, at least for Aramis, personal shame was a big deal as well.

[Senshi Odayakama (Crimson.)]

She walked with the Beast Clan party as well as her own, and soon enough, they made it to the jungled region, and it was so humid, more humid than she would have imagined, and the grasses were so tall! She marveled at that, and at that period, she followed behind the bigger guards, seeing they were able to push aside the grasses easier. In specifics, she followed behind Aron, and so when he called out, asking if they’d be up for hunting, she stopped, wiped the sweat from her forehead, then nodded. “Hai.” She said it high pitched, effeminate, cutesy. After ten minutes of wandering through the jungle, she wished that it wasn’t so...moist in here. She would be tempted to take off her second layer too, that is if people weren’t around. She was almost wondering if Aron was reading her mind when he said...maybe they should spit up for a bit. “Well...I’ll try my best to catch us dinner! Though...this is my first time hunting ever. Erh! How am I supposed to bring it with me!”

An anime sweatdrop formed on the side of her head, and from that point, they were gone their separate ways. Looking to that hole in the tree, she wondered for a moment if there might be giant eggs sitting in there. The thought of eating an egg that was bigger than her sort of chilled her. Yeah, maybe they shouldn’t. So, she head off, following the feathers, and soon enough, she was stopped below ground, looking up to a bird, one that was easily larger than her, and looked rather intimidating with it’s razor sharp teeth. Well, golly gosh, how was she going to deal with such a creature? Well, she’d figure something out. Didn’t take her long to figure out her plan actually.

She wasn’t going to be able to get it to come down, so no other option than to go up. Shunpo was her option of choice. Blasting herself into the sky with all the force she could muster, she’d attempt to appear right above the thing’s head, her right hand extended. “Bakudo no Kyu: Geki.” A red beam, small in size shot out from her fingertips, fully intending on paralyzing the beast, making it utterly immobile. Due to its likely lack of spiritual power, it would be most likely unable to move from its position. If successful with the initial strike, she landed on the bird beak, hand petting the exquisite feathery creature once on its face. “Byakurai.” For a bird as large as this, her blade wouldn’t be so great, not for a clean kill, so she did it efficiently, aiming a single and decisive blast to the bird’s brain, straight through the center.

The possible smoking hole in its head was what Senshi was waiting to see, and upon completion, she simply hopped, hopped right off and right on top of the giant branch they rested on. The bird if vanquished...hopefully would taste decent. Did giant carnivorous parrot bird taste like chicken? For some reason, she doubted it. Crap...she wasn’t strong enough to carry this thing with her, and she wasn’t just about to wait there, sitting next to it until someone showed up was she? Oh goodness gracious, she should have thought this through a little bit more. She would have kicked herself if she could, seeing she didn't consider how she was gonna bring this bird creature back to the others. Would anyone be upset if she just sat here and waited? She wasn't Hercules...she couldn't lift it if her life depended on it.

SPOILER: Click to show

Reiatsu Remaining:
3200/3300
-50 Shunpo
-25 Geki
-25 Byakurai

Stats:
Strength:(70x.6)=42
Speed:300
Spiritual Pressure:330
Reiatsu Strength:(400x1.75)=700
Light Aura:75
Dark Aura:25
Instinct:150
Senses:150
Energy Sensory:0
Wound Expertise:0

Total:1400




Skills:
Analyzing:2
Learning:2
Weapons*:2[Swords]
Martial Arts*:2[Aikido]
Battle Analysis:2
Mental Enchantation:2
Pain Tolerance:2
Kido:2
Damage Recovery:1
17/17 SKP

[Tsukuyomi Kawada]

Departing along with everyone else wasn't as easy as Tsukuyomi even with all of the doubts that were rushing throughout his mind thought it would have been. How could he trust either of the others that had come along with him. This type of assignment required that he trust the others alongside him and now with his secret out he wasn't capable of trusting either of them. It was shocking to find out that the Captain of the Science and Research Division was also a Nakkabakki, but just because he was the same as him didn't mean that he could be trusted. Very few knew of his secret and although some of them had treated him no different for it he knew that others wouldn't be able to see passed it.

He stayed in the back listening to the surrounding area at all times making sure that the scope of his senses were constantly being pressed to their limits. He wasn't the best, but his senses where enough that he figured if anything got relatively close to them he'd be able to hear it and act accordingly. Aside from the typical movement of grass, air and the occasional small animal that here in Eden were actually made much more noise than he was expecting he didn't hear anything. By the time they got to the jungle his mind was already wary from pressing his senses for an extended period of time.

The group of them had to be careful moving throughout the jungle to keep on track and not make a misstep in the wrong direction otherwise who knew how long ti would take them to get back on track towards the city. Tsukuyomi although he always cared for nature and wouldn't typically want to cause any sort of harm to the natural form of the area felt the urge to draw Honshitsu and begin cutting a path through the high grass. The idea that something could be hiding in what would normally be plain sight made him even more uneasy. The heat accompanied by the humidity did nothing more than cause Tsukuyomi to begin sweating through his clothing furthering his discomfort.

After what felt far longer than what it had actually been it seemed that Skofnung wished to speak with him as Tsukuyomi noticed the massive lion getting closer and closer to him as they moved simply be reducing his own movement speed. It only took a moment longer for the Alpha of the Beasts to address him by his rank at which point Tsukuyomi turned his head from gazing forward at the constant sea of grass towards the massive lion while they continued to press onwards. Skofnung spoke asking if it would be alright if they could speak as he hadn't had as much time to speak with him as he had Senshi.

Tsukuyomi knew exactly what was going on. Skognung and likely everyone else in the group could feel his tenseness along with his unease. Tsukuyomi usually gave off a calm demeanor that could reassure others that everything was going to be alright and that nothing could faze him yet with his secret out he was now the opposite. Skofnung didn't wish to speak to him simply to find out more about him even if what he said was correct and the more they knew about one another the better. He was going to press for information while at the same time more than likely address Tsukuyomi's current status.

The group stopped and within a few moments the only entities left where they had all been were Skofnung and Tsukuyomi himself. Although he had no way of telling he was sure based on the actions that he had seen prior to this and the information that he had been given by his former Captain that the female panther who had snuck up on him back when they had first tried to gain entrance to see Skofnung was off in the distance watching them. It would make the most sense to keep her eyes on Tsukuyomi given the situation and even if the situation was different he didn't think the felines would ever leave their Alpha without back up.

As they began to speak it was just as Skofnung stated during the first sentence that left his mouth it was quite frank. It had been obvious not to just the rest of the group, but to Tsukuyomi himself that the emotions that he had been feeling since the true start of this assignment had been felt by the others. There was nothing he could do about it though. Despite being trained to keep his emotions in check since being a Kawada along with being incredibly calm during virtually all situations the problem that he knew he'd have to face was the one he had feared his entire life. He had dedicated hours to finding a solution to it. Constantly pondering if there was a way to stay in Soul Society after his secret was learned and only through luck had he made it this far.

It seemed that Skofnung despite appearing wise and intelligent especially when compared to the standard Beast that Tsukuyomi had heard about didn't know what was wrong with the situation and why Tsukuyomi was harboring such ill emotions. "I'll be frank as well then. No matter what I do here in Eden whether this expedition is a magnificent success for all of us or not I'm going to end up dead now because of your pack. Although they may not have intended such an outcome by mere questioning and enforcement of rules that are understandably in place the end result will be the same. Soul Society doesn't accept entities such as myself and now that news of my secret has reached the ears of others it will quickly find it's way to those in charge of Soul Society. The success of this assignment will be ignored while my existence will be purged by my execution without a second thought."

[Zeich Yajuu]

Skofnung, to his credit, waited for Tsukuyomi to complete his explanation. And it was true, in the young Kawada’s shoes, most people would be terrified. Outed in a society that would condemn him for a birth he did not choose, losing everything he had worked his whole life towards? One would think that such a sad story would be worth some sympathy, that a response would be full of compassion for one that was so seemingly without hope. That was why Skofnung’s response would probably be shocking, if not somewhat infuriating: he laughed.

The leader’s laughter was booming and loud compared to his normally level tone, and it would likely startle anyone who wasn’t expecting it. Skofnung quickly calmed down, however, and gave his own response to the likely-bristling Tsukuyomi. “A member of the once-famous Kawada family, and yet your political inclinations are… lacking, to say the least.” His tone wasn’t condescending, though it was somewhat admonishing, like a teacher instructing a student. “Yes, I know about the noble families of Soul Society, and of their recent shifts in popularity and power. It is a leader’s duty to know their allies, after all. But your solution, Tsukuyomi, is surprisingly obvious to anyone who has the slightest political sense. Review the knowledge you’ve gained and make use of it.”

“You’ve noticed as well as I have that the Captain has the potential for similar traits. You can use this knowledge as a lever—if your secret gets out, so does his. Whether he’s willing to risk that with his status is of course a variable in itself, but if nothing else, it lends weight. If nothing else, however, it will raise enough questions to keep him from getting anything done due to the nature of such a ‘threat,’ which makes me inclined to believe he’d keep your secret in exchange for his. And of course, with his support, you’d be equally able to keep Senshi quiet as well, you see?”

It seemed a surprising turn from the lion that had been jovial and cordial towards them the whole time, yet Tsukuyomi was starting to see the side of Skofnung that was required him in order for him to lead his pack. Ruthless and calculating, he was forced to use whatever resources were at his disposal in order to ensure the safety and well-being of his people. He was a good person… but he could quickly be otherwise, if he thought it to be necessary. Tsukuyomi would have to likely re-evaluate his views of Skofnung.

“Think on what I’ve told you—it may not be as hopeless as you think.”

---

Aron listened quietly, letting Aramis speak. Respect was evident in his eyes, not just because Aramis had kept his end of the deal, but because of what Aramis was and how he endured its effects. Even after the Captain had finished talking, the lion was quiet and thoughtful for a short time yet. The two of them continued their walk in silence, musing over the situation. But after a few minutes, Aron looked up again, speaking his own part. “First off, let me thank you for your willingness to be open, Captain. While we had a good idea of the effects of your heritage and how your people would treat it, it seems that even our initial estimates were still lacking. I humbly apologize for pushing the matter so, though it was necessary.”

“With that being said, Captain, I have a proposal for you that may in turn help you in the long run. We have, in our pack and some of the subordinate packs that have submitted to our rule, several other half-demons. While in the past we have occasionally had an unstable or evil creature of such origin, the majority have been very civilized—relatively speaking—and well-situated in our packs. While we lack the means by which to study and observe to give proper conclusions, we estimate that they are about as likely to be wicked as any other being. Perhaps, if you would be willing, we could accommodate several of your Squad members to do a study on them and increase awareness in a means that might help make your condition more acceptable? I apologize if this seems like a rather poor repayment for your risk of exposure, but—”

A loud crack broke through the jungle, and Aron’s ears perked up as he looked back behind them. “...Seems like Senshi’s found our dinner. Shall we go see if she needs a hand?”

---

The parrot was indeed caught by the Geki spell, paralyzed as it sat there, bound by Senshi’s Bakudo. Being just a normal animal—albeit a very big, very dangerous one—it had no way to resist the spell placed on it. All it could do was sit and wait as Senshi drew close, aiming and preparing her Byakurai…

And then, with a blast of wind washing over her, Senshi found claws digging into her shoulders and dragging her forward, causing her Byakurai to miss. The bolt shot off to the side, striking through a tree and causing it to topple as its core was demolished by the lightning. She was roughly dropped onto the ground, face-first at that, and had little time to look up as a powerful flapping could be heard. Looking up, she’d see a second parrot similar to the first, albeit with different coloring. Blood stained its claws where the talons had stabbed into Senshi, and though the wounds weren’t particularly threatening, it was enough to be painful.

And as she recovered, the Vice Captain would hear the flap of wings that announced the second parrot was no longer paralyzed and had taken flight. Surrounded by two large predatory birds, how would she react? She would have to do so quickly, as the one that had just attacked her dove with surprising speed, closing the distance in no time with its talons held before it. At the same time, the second was circling about, preparing its own dive from the side.

((Assume the birds are moving at a speed of 400, and have a strength of 250 to grab with. Yes, they’re strong birdies.))

[Senshi Odayakama (Crimson.)]

As Odayakama Senshi was about to deliver the final blow to the bird, it came just a moment too late. The fluttering of winds, and she was lifted into the air, sharp talons digging into her shoulders as she was lifted from the large bird. “Ach!” That was the only reply as she was taken off the branch, off the bird, and into the air for a moment. She quickly recovered herself however, upon realizing that she was let go, the thing planning on leaving without her. Her index finger shot out, releasing a golden rope in an attempt to wrap around the bird’s leg, having her tethered, holding on for dear life. However, the next movement was simple, wrapping the rope around her palm. Tsuzuri Raiden. With that, she was hoping to at least take down this avian predator.

With a 700 Reiatsu Strength electricity coursing through that rope, then she’d be willing to hit the ground. The rippling blue energy ripped through that rope, zapping her target, and hopefully putting it down for the count. As for the other bird, well, if it opted to chase her, it ought to hurry now shouldn’t it? Damn...if she had her other arm, she could probably deal with both of them, possibly BE done with both of them now. However, as she was likely being flown around, she screamed as if she were on a rollercoaster. It was quite a ride, and likely one that someone would experience only once. As for the second bird, well, since she was being carried by this 400 speed parrot, it was going to be an interesting venture, the thing catching up to her.

This wasn’t exactly how Senshi was expecting to be spending her day, but there was a first time for everything right? Not everyone could fly on on a giant parrot by an extension of some rope. Boy oh boy would she have stories to share to Himitsu, July, and even Kaen after this event. How odd it was that it seemed all of her friends or important associates were all captain level. Well, enough about that. It was about time for her to get back at it then now wasn’t it? “Ahahahaha!” This is amazing!” Lightening up for once, she let the bird carry her as it wished, and hopefully it wouldn’t ram her into anything. Her Kido was pretty strong, and she imagined the bird couldn't be going through a pleasant experience, as even some of the tankier types of fighters could grunt and yell at the pain of experiencing the super taser of this Kido. Well, let the battle begin.

SPOILER: Click to show

Reiatsu Remaining:
3150/3300
-25 Hainawa
-25 Tsuzuri Raiden

[Aramis Tezuka]

Now Aron had Aramis's attention fully. Albeit not likely for the reasons he would have hoped for. Due to his own condition, studies on Hell, and denizens that hailed from that place were the primary focus of Aramis's interests. So the offer to extend the focus of his studies to Beast Clan was.... very, very intriguing. The wheels in his head were turning, anticipating issues, problems, and benefits of the situation. Certainly extending awareness of Nakabakki could be problematic if Tsukuyomi and Senshi kept their silence, as it could enable other members of the squad to pick out the inconsistencies of Aramis's condition. Aramis encouraged intelligence and inquisitiveness in his division. Which, while he believed these vital for the operation of Squad 12, it did provide issues were any of the division to notice some of the oddities surrounding their Captain. However, could he monitor the studies to restrict information flow to what he deemed appropriate? He'd probably have to gain approval to directly study the effects of Nakabakki... Aramis's mind continued to work through this issue, and would likely continue for some time during this little excursion. Perhaps this mission would have some benefits to his research after all. Risk and reward were an intrinsic part of science (or at least he believed so), and while weighing the risks was important sometimes you just had to take some to advance the progression of knowledge.

Aron's offer was interrupted by the crashing sound, and Aramis acutely noted fluctuations in Senshi's reiatsu as she cast her kido spells. "So it would appear. Very well, let us go and see." He agreed, moving to accompany Aron on his way back, using his Energy Sensory, to locate Senshi and begin to approach her position. "Your offer is a welcome one, and one which I will not consider lightly. I thank you for it." Aramis replied additionally. While the Nakabakki's physical senses were not on the level of the Beast Clan themselves, they were still adept, and he took note of the crashing and even the sound of what appeared to be Senshi laughing. "Hmm... It seems Vice Captain Senshi has encountered complications." He added pointedly, as they advanced through the dense jungle. He took a moment, as they moved, to check to make sure his arm shackle was appropriately working, since he removed it. He wasn't particularly concerned for Senshi. As a Vice Captain, he was certain she was more than capable of looking out for herself.

[Tsukuyomi Kawada]

Speaking with Skofnung for the few moments that had already gone by Tsukuyomi could see why his former Captain had given him such instructions to watch out for him. She was indeed right he was not like any other Beast that Tsukuyomi had encountered. He was wise yet when he spoke Tsukuyomi felt like beneath his words there was a hunger to him. Almost like he was speaking from experience with similar problems from his own past. Tsukuyomi knew virtually nothing about Skofnung, but the fact that he could speak to him about the issue that was at hand for him with such ease caused the naturally calm Shinigami even more frustration. His brows visibly narrowed as Skofnung laughed.

"I didn't grow up in the comfort of noble life like you may assume. Growing up in the dirt and darkness didn't give me any sort of political knowledge that you may assume I possess." Tsukuyomi although he spoke with obvious growing contempt for the Alpha that he had been sent here to help protect in this wilderness waited and listened to the words that were next spoken by the massive lion. "You believe because I know he's also a Nakabakki that he won't inform the leaders of Soul Society that I'm one as well. The thought has crossed my mind yet I know that given enough time he should be able to make up some form of cloaking experiment to make himself unpredictably different than a typical Shinigami. Not to mention he's a Captain. Although in the past Soul Society wouldn't hesitate to execute him for being born different I'm afraid with the current state of things they my make an exception."

Tsukuyomi sighed thinking about the situation further and as he did the image of a single old man broke into his thoughts. "Even if he does stay silent my grandfather may simply kill me the moment he finds out about this. He'd rather keep the name of the Kawada family clean from the stain he views me as then continue to keep me alive simply for my position. While you may not have wished such problems upon me you and your pack have. I'm not like all of you. I can't bring myself to employ such methods to ensure my own survival and perhaps that will be my undoing. My former Captain was right though you're definitely a powerful leader and I'll do what I can to keep this assignment going smoothly."

[Zeich Yajuu]

Senshi’s spell almost fell short of hitting the bird due to its speed and motion in flying away, yet despite that it managed to just barely grasp around the foot, binding itself to the deadly talons and securing the Hainawa spell to its target. Normally the spell’s nature was simply to bind, tying limbs to one’s sides, but mastery provided several interesting tricks, in this case allowing a certain Vice-Captain to fly… for all of a few moments. Being slammed into a tree and through a branch as thick as she was ruined Senshi’s experience somewhat, but that was all that could happen before her second spell was conducted through the first, sending a jolt of electricity into her captive.

The parrot spasmed as lightning jolted through its body, firing off all its nerves and stunning it in mid-flight. The result had it crashing into a large tree before plummeting into the earth, a loud boom announcing the impact as it struck the ground. It was still alive despite the descent, however, and it slowly staggered to its feet, an easy target for the Vice Captain to finish off. The second bird seemed to have already flown off after the commotion, meaning that there would be little distraction to ending things without further hassle.

It was at that point that “help” arrived, albeit unnecessarily. Aron came crashing through the trees a few moments later, pouncing on the staggered parrot and bearing it to the ground. A simple, savage motion snapped the creature’s neck, and the lion held it down on the ground until it stopped twitching, the last of the life leaving its body. Aramis was likely not far behind if at all, arriving in time for the killing blow, so to speak.

Once he was sure that it was dead, Aron finally climbed off of the parrot before dusting off his paws. “Ah, not a bad catch, Vice-Captain. I’ve never eaten a parrot before, but I suppose it tastes no different from any other bird, really. Would you like a hand carrying it back, or do you have it under control?” The last was a friendly, playful jab from Aron, who was quick to tuck his arms under the bird’s large body to find a proper grip. His back and leg muscles strained as he lifted, but after a few attempts he was able to lift the large avian onto his back, albeit awkwardly, and manage a reasonable pace with it. “A bit bigger than I had anticipated bringing back, but I think the others will be pleased at a big meal before tomorrow’s mission. We shouldn’t even have to catch breakfast!”

With that, the three of them would head back to the camp. By the time they arrived, Skofnung and Tsukuyomi would have finished their talk; the leader’s last response to the Vice-Captain’s statement was simply an understanding nod, one that said he understood the burden. But that ended before the rest arrived, leaving each with their own thoughts and considerations. Aron and Skofnung exchanged a glance and a nod as well, more silent communication between the two of them. Still, everything seemed pleasant enough after their separate excursion.

Aron and Garath got to work plucking and cleaning the parrot with surprising efficiency, making a pile out of the feathers and setting them aside for Vana, who had arrived as silently as she had left and was sorting through them and picking out particular ones for later. Skofnung was already digging a small firepit, lining the edge with stones. It seemed that this group was well used to making camp; no doubt most Beast-Clansmen were used to roughing it even in their established territory. Even Skoll was productive, though his task seemed to be simply gathering dry branches and bark to be used for the fire. The usual curses could be heard from the half-demon, but in a more subdued manner than normal; it seemed that his irritation was more shown than felt, here.

Before long, nearly a dozen long sharpened branches were set around the fire, slabs of meat skewered on them to cook. Dinner came and went as the sun went down, and the parrot was surprisingly good, if a tad more oily in taste than expected. The evening was surprisingly loud, with wildlife calling in the night, though none of the Beast-Clansmen seemed bothered by it. It was a different sort of noise from the Seireitei evenings, full of unfamiliar sounds. Knowing of it and experiencing it were two different things, perhaps making it a very unusual evening for those present.

Once dinner was done, Skofnung rose to speak one last time. “Alright. Tomorrow we should reach the edge of the jungle, and be at the city no later than noon. Get a good night’s rest, and prepare yourselves. We will be going in with the intent of diplomacy, but anything could happen. And, in the event something does happen...” His eyes narrowed. “Should it come to a violent attack, focus on survival and escape. And, should the worst come to pass…” He left the words unspoken, looking mildly troubled.

Aron filled in the silence. “...Should it come to that, and word get to our people, there will be war. Our packs will burn and raze any who would act with such callousness. Being uncooperative is expected; we are strangers, they are natives. If they decline our alliance peacefully, we will have no issues. But if blood is shed for no reason, it will soon be theirs.”

Skofnung nodded in agreement. “Indeed… and the Scylding Pack, along with its subordinate packs, are not to be underestimated. Let us hope it does not come to that.” The pack leader cleared his throat. “For now, we should head to sleep. We have a long, busy day tomorrow. Be ready; if you have any more questions, best to ask them now. I expect to move quickly tomorrow.”

((Note: I am going to be removing the deadline for posts since I seem to be the one failing on the once a week due to life things, though I am hoping to keep up this general pace if possible.))

[Tsukuyomi Kawada]

The discussion between Skofnung and Tsukuyomi it seemed was over as the young Shinigami heard the approach of the others in the group and noticed the physical signals given between the Beasts to one another. The Alpha of the pack nodded to him and seemed to understand if even a little why Tsukuyomi felt the way that he did. Over the rest of the evening Tsukuyomi would stray away from the rest of them keeping to himself for the majority of the night staying on what could only be described the edge of the group. Although he ate one piece of the bird himself in order to keep his strength up Tsukuyomi didn't speak to anyone. Choosing to sleep in a tree instead of the grass which concealed the approach of anything that could slip passed his hearing. From the tree branch he had a view and even as he slept he knew the chances of anything sneaking up on him were much less likely than down with everyone else.

Although Tsukuyomi had discussed things already the end result was still the same and he couldn't bring himself to trust the others at the moment. Staying away from them and excluding himself from the group unless it came under attack was the best thing he felt at the moment for the group as a whole. It had been made obvious that most of the group if not all of them could feel his emotions at the moment and thus he was a distraction.

[Senshi Odayakama (Crimson.)]

Her flight ultimately could have gone through more smoothly. She wasn’t the most physically powerful, but thankfully her durably Shinigami body was enough to stop her from taking any major damage. Crashing into a tree while flying, then breaking through the branch was painful, but it was most certainly far from the worst experience she had ever felt. Why, she’s had full limbs cut off, incinerated, shocked, pierced through, etc. So, the only response was a light grunt before the electricity took her avian friend here in full force and with a vengeance. It soon experienced what Senshi had felt just moments ago, but with more punishment than it had given her overall. CRASH!

Upon the bird’s sudden fall, Senshi twisted herself in the air, quite used to the experience of falling to earth. Pulling herself in, she landed on top of the bird’s body, cushioning the impact of the blow before landing atop of the thing. “Yatta! What a catch we’ve got here!” Hopping off of the bird, it began to stand, to which she was prepared to finish it with a quick Byakurai. Sadly, it wouldn’t come to be as Aron came and stole her kill, and in a rather disgustingly brutal matter, yet a humane way of breaking its neck swiftly. Her eyes widened a notch when she witnessed it, still not able to believe the great strength of the Beast Clan peoples. She never knew they were THAT strong. That bird was tough, and it was rather large. So, she learned something about physical fighters, size wasn’t everything.

Looking at Aron with those stunned blue eyes, her yellow rope released. She looked at him as if he were a sore thumb at this moment, which couldn’t be blamed seeing he killed her catch. “Aheh...I think you can take care of that big man. I haven’t had parrot either. I think it should be tasty, especially seeing we worked to catch it.” Man, that beast man knew how to lift, and so she got out of his way so he could carry it easier. She simply patted him once on the shoulder before reporting to the captain. “Well Taicho, seems we have food. I am sorry that I wasn’t able to get it in a state for you to study at least for a little.” With that, she walked off, following Aron back to camp.

There were a number of questions she had, such as why Vara would bother sorting out the feathers and what use the beast clan had for them. Them two being the only females on this mission, she figured it wouldn’t be a terrible idea to talk, but she seemed busy. Somehow she felt a little bit more than estranged by the Vice Captain and the Captain now, but they were still Shinigami, they still represented the same group. While everyone was busy, she worked on cleaning the cuts she received from the talons of the predator, also the bruise in private using something she rarely used. She despite not having much medical knowledge knew Kaido, enough only so that she could heal light wounds like the bruise from slamming into a tree, also the minor cuts she got, and in the effort of being careful, this took some time.

She got what could be described at the drumstick, which wasn’t that bad considering everything, and she deserved it seeing she cornered and got the thing. Aron though...he was a dirty killstealer! It was a shame she couldn’t relish saying, “I was the one who made the kill so we could eat!” Yet, she didn’t mind in reality. Sitting by the fire, she smiled as she ate, but wished there was some better conversation to have. Seemed she wasn’t around the most social of people, especially the black and red wolf that cursed about everything. What an interesting group, a happy and simple band of people that also seemed complex in their own rights. It was an experience.

There was a chilling announcement about slaughter, war, what was to happen if things went wrong. She didn’t really want to think about what could go wrong, but she acknowledged that it was a possibility, one that she couldn’t deny. She listened to the Beast Clan talk of this, and with that, she looked to Skofnung, then Skoll, Vara, Aron, all of the people gathered before her. She spoke, with a solid and clear voice. “I understand, but Skofnung, please do keep this in mind. Our mission is not only to represent the Seireitei in this visit, but also to protect you from harm whatever it may be. Not that I mean to say you can’t defend yourself, but please do keep in mind, your life is ours.” She wanted him to know that he was important, and the Shinigami here were obligated to guard him no matter what.

There was one final piece she had to deal with. Slowly climbing the tree Tsukuyomi rested on, she rested on a branch adjacent to him. “Konichiwa Tsukuyomi-San. I...know you must be rather troubled right now, worried that if you head home, you’re going to get into trouble. However, know this. I keep my word, and some can say that I’ve paid more than what some would pay for Soul Society. As much as I care about the Seireitei and its maintenance of peace, I also care greatly about my friends. While we haven’t known each other a long time, I count you as a friend, so consider my lips sealed about your heritage secret of yours.” She smiled brightly trying to show him her warm intentions and aura, and she spoke one last thing before resting her head on that wooden branch. “Know that you’re never alone, because for a Shinigami, our greatest strength is each other. So trust in me.” Sighing, she looked to the tall trees, the leaves around them, seeing only the slightest glimmers of the moon. She rested then. Peaceful, that’s what this was.

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis stumbled upon Senshi's great victory. Dinner. He had moved at a lithe, even pace, quickly falling behind Aron's great crashing leaps that sent him through the undergrowth. By contrast, Aramis slipped through the foliage, scarcely touching it. But whereas no doubt a Beast Clan might have accomplished this naturally, there was something distinctly unnatural about the way Aramis seemed to do it. Either way, the Nakabakki and Beast Clan had come across the Vice Captain that had successfully subdued the great beast of a parrot. "So the kitten unveils her claws." Aramis noted, as he stepped lightly around the late parrot, bereft of life and gone to join the choir invisible. An ex-parrot to be sure. Aramis gave a brief note of admiration to the Beast Clan's formidable strength as he lifted the parrot by himself. Indeed, Aramis certainly could not have achieved such a feat of strength. The Beast Clan were powerful indeed. Senshi apologized for not leaving in a state to study, but Aramis gave a shrug in answer. "It's of little consequence. I doubt this was an endangered species." He answered.

Aramis accompanied them back to camp where Tsukuyomi and Skofnung seemed to have concluded their discussion. Aramis watched Tsukuyomi closely to see if he could detect the same hostility as before, but gave no other signs of intrusion, merely taking his seat by the fire. As night fell, Aramis felt at peace, as he ate his portion of the meal. Consolidating his strength. He always felt at home in the darkness and the shadows. It was part of his nature afterall. An Akki of the Aspect of Darkness had sired him, so it made sense that he was at home in the depths of night. He found himself, even now, at a further point from the fire than the others.

Skofnung made his plans with the group, explaining that they'd clear the jungle by tomorrow morning. They had made good time. And his mind began working to determine what would happen when they reached the city. It was difficult to say, having not seen it himself. "I assure you I will not underestimate them." He said. And little else. He finished his meal, and drank some water, and laid down to rest. He overheard Senshi speaking to Tsukuyomi, about his nature, and how she would not say anything. Good. He assumed the same would likely extend to himself. That would avoid complications down the line. Aramis rested that night. But he slept little, if at all. He found sleep difficult. Not quite insomnia, but in the entirety of the night, he would not have found himself able to sleep more than an hour or two by the time the group prepared to leave.

[Zeich Yajuu]

The next morning dawned bright, though a light layer of mist from the heavy humidity laid over everything, draping the jungle in a sheen of dewdrops. Skofnung’s party was up early, rising with the sun and already preparing for their day. Aron and Garath had finished packing up the remainder of the parrot’s meat in their pouches, wrapping the bundles in a thin cloth. Vana had spent her morning making a handful of arrows using obsidian arrowheads she kept in a waist pouch, fletching arrows with choice feathers from the parrot after trimming them down properly. Skofnung seemed to sit meditatively, considering the events of the day ahead, and would simply wave away any attempts to disturb him. Skoll simply slept through it all, dozing against one of the tree trunks a short distance away from the party; clearly the wolf-demon was not an early riser.

Once the Shinigami had risen—and Skoll was shaken from his sleep with a gentle kick from Aron that still easily knocked the Nakabakki over—the Beast-Clansman party finished their preparations and got ready to set off. With the sun at their backs, the group of Shinigami and beasts made their way through the jungle, pushing forward through the foliage towards the city that lay on its far edge. Nothing hindered their path, and though the brush rustled with the presence of other animal life, they were not approached. It would have almost been a pleasant excursion, if it weren’t for the rising heat that came with the sun’s ascent. But that would all be brushed aside as they broke through the wall of the jungle’s outer edge, the trees starting to disperse as the thigh-high grass only grew more dense. Soon the view before the party opened up, revealing the scene before.

Grassland spread as far as the eye could see, with the hills in the horizon as only the slightest curve against the sky. Skofnung had understated just how vast the plains were; whoever their scout was, she had traveled a long distance in order to get a general map of the area. Or perhaps that was why the map was so limited in information; there was just too much distance to cover for a short scouting trip. Either way, it was obvious that the place was rather enormous. In the distance, easily several miles away, rose a large stone city. At a glance, it could be mistaken for Seireitei in terms of its size. It was laid out in a neat octagon with each of its enormous walls rising up at least forty feet in height. From the center, a large tower rose even higher, at least twice as high as the walls if not higher. Their destination, for sure.

Skofnung and his entourage started off quickly, keeping a surprisingly quick pace. Though the other Shinigami were easily able to keep up, Skoll lagged slightly behind, having to move at a slight jog du to being slower than the rest of the party. His grumbled swearing was the only indication of his discomfort, and he kept the pace fairly well despite it. No doubt he was used to being slower and weaker than his peers due to his unusual nature. The party’s pace allowed them to close the distance quickly, and before long they were in sight of a tall wooden gate, able to see a small group standing before it. Doubtless, Skofnung’s group had been spotted, making this a welcoming party—or a warning party.

Eight wolves—easily enough to be a small Beast-Clansman pack, stood confidently, spread out enough to keep out of each others’ way while still being close enough to assist if needed. Each of them wore the strange scaled armor that Skofnung described, the material woven closely together so that the scales overlapped almost seamlessly. The armor was close-fitting, practically a second layer of skin, and covered the torso and neck completely. A kilt-like skirt of similar scaled armor hung from their waists, but their arms and legs were left bare, likely to increase mobility and flexibility. None bore a weapon, but they were Beast-Clansmen; they were the weapons.

“Halt!” One spoke up, stepping forward. The male stood out from the others with a small circlet of polished metal about his forehead, likely indicating a rank of some sort. “Strangers are not welcome in Babil. State your business or leave immediately.”

Skofnung stepped ahead of the party, motioning them back. Now was the time to be diplomatic, not aggressive. “I am Skofnung, Clan-Leader of the Scylding Pack of Beast-Clansmen. I have come with a delegation to speak with your leader about terms of an alliance or partnership. I request an audience, if it is possible.”

“I am afraid that is not possible.” The wolf-leader responded, his stance still wary. “The Great One does not see outsiders, and we cannot allow you in the city. Go back to your pack, and let them know that you are not welcome here.”

“I cannot accept this.” Skofnung’s tone remained neutral despite the disagreement. “I have come a long way to speak with your people. If I may not speak with your leader, is there another official I may discuss this matter with? I’m afraid that leaving empty-handed is not an option that I would pursue.”

“You think you can afford to threaten us?” This time, one of the soldiers behind the leader spoke, his voice a low growl. “Here’s a third option: I can rip your throat out before you blink.”

Skofnung’s eyes narrowed. “I would prefer that this not come to conflict; all I have come to do is speak with someone in charge—”

Before he could finish, the guard who had spoken suddenly crossed the distance in a powerful step technique that seemed to resemble a Shunpo. But it was far too fast for that, even for a Beast-Clansman with their exceptional speed; of the Shinigami, only Aramis would be able to keep up with it mentally, and even then it was all a sudden blur of motion and action. It seemed as if he had simply teleported, were such a thing possible, and only the trail of dust and grass that erupted a moment later indicated that he had actually moved across the distance. Whatever it was, the stepping technique used was fast.

Sklurk!

There was a sickening sound of sharp edges tearing through flesh and muscle, and crimson exploded outwards on the impact. Fur, skin, muscle, and bone all exploded into a pulpy mess and splattered to the ground, while choking gurgles came from a ruined throat. Nerveless hands reached up at the wound, as though expecting to close the grisly injury through raw force, but it was too late; soon, he collapsed to the ground, unmoving.

In the blink of an eye, the wolf guard had closed the distance between himself and Skofkung… and then the Beast-Clansman leader had nearly decapitated him in a single strike.

It had happened so quickly that even Aramis would have had to blink at the sight. Sometime in that threatening motion and step, Skofnung’s tail had changed, becoming long and sinuous, a layer of scales covering it and a serpentine head appearing at its end. Reports from the Beast-Clansman meeting in Sanctuary had described a similar ability in which Skofnung had shown minor transformative abilities, his tail turning into a snake that could inflict curses upon those it struck. This time, however, there was no need for preventative measures; the serpent’s fangs had torn through the guard’s flesh and bone in moments, leaving only a thin strip of muscle and flesh holding the head on; even the spinal cord had been damaged, causing the head to flop back sickeningly even as the corpse fell to the ground.

In an instant, the party was surrounded, with the remaining guards spreading out in a circle about them. All were wary now, and fangs were bared; it was obvious that they did not intend to let the party go, now. The only one who remained calm was the leader, who stared at the party with a neutral, but questioning gaze. Aron and Garath moved closer to Skofnung, taking defensive stances, and Vana pulled her bow from her back, taking one of the arrows she had prepared and nocking it. Skoll simply cracked his knuckles, looking eager for the fight.

It seemed that things had come to a conflict. The choice was theirs: did they try and fight their way through, or try and convince the guards that they were not truly enemies?

[Tsukuyomi Kawada]

Discussing the problem that was at the forefront of his mind hadn't been much help to the young Nakabakki. Even as everything was being arranged for the night to come and Senshi made the point to tell Tsukuyomi that he didn't have anything to worry about when it came to her. She gave him her word that she saw him as a friend and she wouldn't tell anyone about his secret. Tsukuyomi didn't know Senshi all that well, but he could tell based on the tone of her speak and her body language that she was speaking the truth at least for the moment. That left Aramis as the one to contemplated as a threat to his survival once they returned to Soul Society.

Tsukuyomi simply nodded his head downwards to Senshi than stood making his way away from the group and fire. He had gone through the majority of his life with no light and very little warmth. Perhaps returning to the old setting would do him some good. Relying on others . . could it have made him weaker? If it hadn't then had he really gotten any stronger? Jumping up Tsukuyomi leaned against a tree branch a few meters off the ground a few yards away from the camp. He was on the edge of the camp fire light on ow as he closed his eyes and began to think over his life and what he could do to savor it.

The next morning when the Beasts awoke getting everything ready for the continued journey towards this newly discovered city Tsukuyomi stood on the branch he had slept on only to jump from it up to a new higher branch. He'd repeat the action a couple additional times until he was at the top of the tree. Gazing outwards in all directions Tsukuyomi could see they still had a fair deal of travel to complete as he saw nothing beyond the tree tops surrounding the expedition group. Dropping down to the forest floor Tsukuyomi would meditate with Mikoto and Honsitshu laid out upon his legs horizontally while everyone else prepared.

Over the course of the next few years Tsukuyomi stayed to himself keeping his senses alter to the random noise of movement throughout the forest. His body never moved beyond grabbed Honshitsu's hilt ready to draw her right away if something came into his view that he perceived as an enemy. Finally when they reached the end of the forest Tsukuyomi like the others could see what he assumed to be this new city off in the distance. The grass field was a welcomed change for the young Nakabakki as the group reduced the distance between them and the city with each additional pace they traveled.

While Skofnung introduced himself to the wolf beast guards of the city Tsukuyomi looked over the wall checking if any additional guards were present and watching them from above. It didn't take long for the nature of this first meeting to quickly turn aggressive. Although he was prepared like the rest of them in the event of a battle he hadn't been expecting Skofnung to display the power and ability that he just had in such a brief moment of time. The he recalled the warning from his former captain telling him that Skofnung was an incredibly powerful beast with unique abilities that could potentially even bring her down. He wasn't to be underestimated or truly trusted.

Suddenly the group was surrounded by the wolf guards. Tsukuyomi had only glanced over the first few and hadn't been able to see the fine craftsmanship of their armor that in truth he wondered if he could replicate or purchase from them so long as they managed to get out of this situation. Although he was potentially the youngest out of all of the expedition Tsukuyomi was the first to act. Stepping slightly forward to face the leader of the guards present Tsukuyomi held out his zanpakuto with his right hand. Horizontally positioned it was as if he was offering the wolf his zanpakuto. "I apologize for what has happened here. My name is Tsukuyomi. I am here on behalf of Soul Society. I to wish to speak with this Great One. I offer you my weapons as a means of trust to your people. Unlike you all I'm not a weapon myself and can't possibly pose any risk to you all without them. I don't wish to step upon your traditions by seeing the Great One, but I'm afraid I don't have any other choice I must try and help all of us present. Please forgive what has happened at least for the moment."