Kurineko decide to walk about the forest looking for small chips of woods and things that might be good offerings for the kami if he was to cast some sort of invocation. "Wet wood might need to dry.... and leaves might be good for the the air kami what about the water kami... What do you think Tori kun?" The small sable made a small noise and went up a tree. "Tori you know I can't get up there." The sable started chattering with the Shiba from atop the tree.

A hawk set down on a branch of another nearby tree. It peered down at the Phoenix and then over at the sable. A rustling in nearby brush indicated the approach of something else.

The rustling didn't startled him as he thought it was his other companion. "Kiba are you hiding around here?" The young Shiba wondered. He looked up and noted the peering hawk. "Well hello there... Please don't eat my friend..."

"She won't. We aren't hunting today." A Unicorn stepped into view, with a hound beside her. "My apologies, if we've disturbed you."

The Shiba shook his head and smiled. "No need for apologies. Tori kun and I were just looking for things that may be... oh where are my manners. This one is Shiba Kuroneko."He bowed. "And that one up there is Tori kun. If you see a black cat around probably would be Kiba."

"Shinjo Jingyi." she returned the smile and the bow. "That's Jiyukaze up there and Aiyama is here by my side."

She reached down to scratch the dog's neck. "Odoruhonō-kun is around here somewhere. Ah, there he is."

A monkey suddenly scampered through the branches above, chittering as it climbed higher.

Kuroneko chuckled. Tori came down to his shoulder. "You seem to have quite the party. May I pet Aiyama?" He didn't want to assume that the dog or the owner would be pleased by his lack of courtesy.

"Of course." she nodded. "Thank you for asking."

She looked down at the hound and spoke in a soft tone. "Péngyǒu."

The shugenja knelt down to pet the dog. Tori moved using the dog as a bridge to sit on the Unicorn girl's shoulder. "Tori kun!?" he didn't stop petting the dog. "I am sorry Tori kun likes to play around. I think that is why Kiba follows me so he has food and a friend to play with."

"No need to apologize." she pet the sable gently. "Odoruhonō-kun might get a bit jealous, but he's used to sharing my attention."

The monkey quickly descended from the treetops, racing over to climb up onto the Unicorn's other shoulder.

"Tsk, behave yourself."

"Come on Tori kun..."The little sable came back to the shoulder of the Shiba climbing around his body making him chuckle. "Three years now and I haven't gotten used to him climbing on me like that." He composed himself. "What brings you here Shinjo san?"

"To the forest?" She looked around. "It's comforting. I prefer the plains, but anywhere outside is nice. What about you?"

As the monkey moved to the preferred shoulder, she whistled and the hawk swooped down to land on a gloved hand.

"I am looking for offerings for the kami. I think they would like to have something different from my usual offerings. I think the fire kami are bored of my poems." He sighed. "The wood is wet because of the rain an I thought perhaps it will dry up for if I have to use it at some point."

"The rain isn't very heavy. It should dry." she nodded. "What would you make?"

"I don't carve... I probably would write a kanji. Or ask someone to make me a flute... that would be nice." He chuckled. "I forgot mine at home."

"That would please the air kami. I'm sure." she smiled, running her fingers through the hawks feathers. "But, I'm afraid I'm not a craftsman either. I couldn't help you with that."

"Oh no worries... you are still a talented animal trainer." He noted something rubbing against his leg. He was still kneeled so the cat was easily picked. "Meet Kiba kun..."

"Hello, Kiba-kun." She smiled brightly as she reached out to gently scratch around the cat's ears."

"I imagine you look forward to the competition? or Are you here passing by?" He wondered if this new friend was here to compete in the Topaz.

"I hope only to represent the Unicorn well." she shrugged. "I want to prove worthy of the invitation."