[LM4] Test of the Wilds Observation

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Perhaps, but I do not think of it that way often", she said. "If I feel a certain way, it is sincere to show it."

"An' if it's a feelin' that'd complicate things for your lord?"

[Akodo Michi]

"An' if it's a feelin' that'd complicate things for your lord?"

She thought about that for a while. Some arrows flew, some horse hooves beat the ground.

"The only feeling that complicates matters is fear, and samurai must not be afraid", she said. "If one cannot say something to their lord, they fear the reaction, the outcome. What use has such a fear? A samurai must banish doubts if they wish to serve their lord unfettered."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

She thought about that for a while. Some arrows flew, some horse hooves beat the ground.

"The only feeling that complicates matters is fear, and samurai must not be afraid", she said. "If one cannot say something to their lord, they fear the reaction, the outcome. What use has such a fear? A samurai must banish doubts if they wish to serve their lord unfettered."

"I mean more, it'd create a burden on your lord if y'said it aloud?"

[Shiba Jiro]

Her eyebrows rose a little, then she mulled it over as she tried to make sense of things.

Yes, he was probably talking about some form of wood-carving, like assessing a piece of wood and then cutting out the best portion to be used in a project.

Not actual peasant labor. Right?

"So you work mostly with wood for your art?"

"I have no personal preference. I create across many mediums. But I do a lot of carving and carpentry. Most samurai are not fans of the more practical labor involved there, but if I had not learned it as well as I did I would not have been able to go into the wilds and turn trees into a shrine to Benten-no-kami single handedly. I exited with every item I entered with, and left behind only my labors and a symbol of my devotion to Romantic Love."

[Doji Nanako]

Having finished at turning in her middling performance, Nanako retired to the observation area after having seen to Ringo the pony being tended to by the grooms.

Nyaneko, imperious and feline, accompanied its Crane companion as she was doubtless on her way to sulk.

[Kakita Ahiru]

"I have no personal preference. I create across many mediums. But I do a lot of carving and carpentry. Most samurai are not fans of the more practical labor involved there, but if I had not learned it as well as I did I would not have been able to go into the wilds and turn trees into a shrine to Benten-no-kami single handedly. I exited with every item I entered with, and left behind only my labors and a symbol of my devotion to Romantic Love."

Ahiru fanned herself, not sure of what to make of this pre-gempukku boy saying he had single-handedly made a shrine to Benten. "Like a little shrine, yes? Not bigger than a box?" She gestured with her hands to indicate the small dimensions of a roadside shrine.

[Shiba Jiro]

"More like the size of the shrine to the seven fortunes here in Tsuma. Maybe a little smaller. It took months," he replied. "It is dedicated to Benten-no-kami and honors an ancestor that gave his life for love, Shiba Reijiro-no-shiryo."

[Kakita Ahiru]

"More like the size of the shrine to the seven fortunes here in Tsuma. Maybe a little smaller. It took months," he replied. "It is dedicated to Benten-no-kami and honors an ancestor that gave his life for love, Shiba Reijiro-no-shiryo."

It would be rude to outright say she didn't believe him, because it sounded far-fetched. So now she was stuck in the conundrum of how to have a conversation where she thought the other one was pulling her leg. Or exaggerating his own accomplishments.

"Sounds very impressive," she settled on in polite neutrality, but with a small smile, but she continued in a more hopeful tone. "You must be the biggest prodigy of your dojo in generations."

[Kitsu Masaru]

Having finished his trials the boy moved to the observation area to watch how the others do, and to observe his fellow competitors interact with one another.

Observing people was a favorite past time of Masaru's, seeing how they acted and reacted was always fascinating and this was a great sample with so many people from different parts of the Empire, the intensely serious Lion, the Brash Mantis, the proper Crane lady, the Phoenix twins, each one brought something new and exciting to every interaction.

For now he stood in his kimono, less layers than usual given they were riding but wearing a forest green outer layer with blue and pink layers underneath he sat and watched but something about his air seemed open to conversation.

[Shiba Kuroneko]

Having finished at turning in her middling performance, Nanako retired to the observation area after having seen to Ringo the pony being tended to by the grooms.

Nyaneko, imperious and feline, accompanied its Crane companion as she was doubtless on her way to sulk.

Another feline came close to the Doji looking up at her begging for food. Kiba mew.

[Doji Nanako]

Another feline came close to the Doji looking up at her begging for food. Kiba mew.

Nyaneko deigned to give this new cat an appraising look. A twitch of the ears, a disdainful twitch of the whiskers. Nyaneko was secure in their position upon Nanako's lap.

"Oh, hello there, you." Nanako greeted the newly arrived feline. Taking a tightly sealed pouch of shredded fish from her obi, Nanako offered a portion to Kiba and, of course, Nyaneko. "Are you here with someone?"

[Shiba Jiro]

It would be rude to outright say she didn't believe him, because it sounded far-fetched. So now she was stuck in the conundrum of how to have a conversation where she thought the other one was pulling her leg. Or exaggerating his own accomplishments.

"Sounds very impressive," she settled on in polite neutrality, but with a small smile, but she continued in a more hopeful tone. "You must be the biggest prodigy of your dojo in generations."

"Not at all. It's just time and effort. That was also months of backbreaking work with limited social interaction, working dawn to dusk, for a week or more at a time. You would be surprised what a person can do if they focus solely on a single task to the exclusion of all others. If you are ever passing near to Zumiki-Mihari it's not too far from there. I or my family can take you there if you like."

[Shiba Kuroneko]

Nyaneko deigned to give this new cat an appraising look. A twitch of the ears, a disdainful twitch of the whiskers. Nyaneko was secure in their position upon Nanako's lap.

"Oh, hello there, you." Nanako greeted the newly arrived feline. Taking a tightly sealed pouch of shredded fish from her obi, Nanako offered a portion to Kiba and, of course, Nyaneko. "Are you here with someone?"

"Huh?" Kuroneko knew that mew looking down but no Kiba. He looked around and saw the cat bothering the Crane girl. The Sable jumped out the sleeve and around the Shiba's neck. He moved to the Crane girl and smiled as she had her own cat perched on her lap. "Is this fellow bothering you?" He asked pointing to Kiba. Kiba turned to Kuroneko and stated to rub against his leg.

[Doji Nanako]

"Oh? No, no bother at all." Nanako murmured. "Animals hang out around me all the time, so I'm glad to see this one isn't by themselves."

"Nice to meet you, Phoenix-san. I don't think we've met before. I'm Doji Nanako. This is Nyaneko."

[Shiba Kuroneko]

"Oh? No, no bother at all." Nanako murmured. "Animals hang out around me all the time, so I'm glad to see this one isn't by themselves."

"Nice to meet you, Phoenix-san. I don't think we've met before. I'm Doji Nanako. This is Nyaneko."

"I am Shiba Kuroneko, and my friend Kiba and Tori." He pointed respectively. That is nice, that animals hang around you all the time... It is an honor to meet you and your companion."

[Doji Nanako]

"I am Shiba Kuroneko, and my friend Kiba and Tori." He pointed respectively. That is nice, that animals hang around you all the time... It is an honor to meet you and your companion."

"An...honor?" Nanako had to think about that sentiment for a moment. It had been a while since she recalled anyone considering it an honor to meet her.

"Oh. Yes. Thank you for your kind words, I hope you're enjoying your visit to my clan's lands. What do you think so far?"

[Shiba Kuroneko]

"An...honor?" Nanako had to think about that sentiment for a moment. It had been a while since she recalled anyone considering it an honor to meet her.

"Oh. Yes. Thank you for your kind words, I hope you're enjoying your visit to my clan's lands. What do you think so far?"

"I travel mostly around your clan lands and enjoy it quite nicely. The Jukami Mura is quite lovely and my last stop in Crane Lands... I may or may not take a boat from here to there. Mostly because I like the scenic route rather than the quicker one."

[Doji Nanako]

"I travel mostly around your clan lands and enjoy it quite nicely. The Jukami Mura is quite lovely and my last stop in Crane Lands... I may or may not take a boat from here to there. Mostly because I like the scenic route rather than the quicker one."

"Oh, I...uh, well, I don't know too much about the Jukami Mura, to be honest." The cats hadn't been forgotten, as Nanako continued to provide them with shredded dried fish.

"I haven't ever been there at all. If you don't mind me asking, what is it like?"

[Shiba Kuroneko]

"Oh, I...uh, well, I don't know too much about the Jukami Mura, to be honest." The cats hadn't been forgotten, as Nanako continued to provide them with shredded dried fish.

"I haven't ever been there at all. If you don't mind me asking, what is it like?"

Tori came out to eat some of the fish beside Kiba. They are used to eating together. Kuroneko nodded. "It is quite the lovely city. It is very busy with so many kobune making their way to port it was a sight." He smiled at the memory. "It mostly my last port stop as we go to Kyuden Kitsune. I guess I am taking a boat ride from here to there when we are done with the tournament."