He had gathered some basic small stuff for some little netsuke, but today he was looking for something a bit more. Something fresher, livelier and useful for something a bit bigger. And so he had his woodworking tools, including the small saw and hatchet he could use for felling smaller trees.

The forest provided a tiny amount of reprieve from the hail, but not enough for it to stop pelting him while he worked. Unfortunately, he couldn't find something suitable for his needs so he just ended up wandering around in the forest getting pelted by hail for no reason.

D3 LA, Labor, Harvesting Wood from Forest | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 2

Fail, opp offset strife, net nothing, waste of time

Fatigue: 2/8

Shiba Kuroneko need to find something to keep his mind at peace thus he came to the forest looking for a small friend. He doubted he would find any because of the hail falling down on them. "Stay down Tori kun we don't want to have to get some medic... I doubt the medics here know how to treat animal wounds." Neko sighed. He noted his cousin. "Neh..." He squinted to be sure who he was talking to. "I hope Inari has blessed you after taking care of the temple, Jiro san."

"Ah, I"ll likely eat later," he says with a bow to the sudden Kuroneko appearing. "I hope you are doing well. I'm out here looking for the right piece of wood, but thus far I haven't found the one I want. How about yourself?"

He sighed. "Trying my best to find new friends... but I doubt they can be found under this weather." He looked around trying not to get hailed on. "I thank you for helping out in the temple... I know I didn't do much physical work but I was trying my best to help the spirit come back."

"We all did our parts. To accomplish what we did so quickly takes a lot of hands. It took me months to build a shrine by myself. It is a lot of varied work," he says.

"The weather is quite nasty. Do you think it is related to the warning of the tsunami?"

"I am not a weather caster yet... but it probably is..." He sighed. "I just hope that our efforts bring balance to this place... The shine you made... back in Phoenix lands... to who is it for? If it is okay for me to know."

"It is a shrine to Benten-no-kami that honors an ancestor that died for love. Built on the land where he allowed his rival to cut him down without a fight," he explained. "Shiba Reijiro-no-shiryo."

"I see... I doubt my path will take me there. Perhaps if I am to go back to Phoenix lands I will be able to visit." He sighed. "I doubt Benten will bless this one with someone."

"Well, I suspect that you'd be a great husband, and even if you haven't been matched yet, you are a topaz competitor and a priest. You will be matched and probably to someone important. But if you write a little prayer I can offer it there next time I visit."

"I'll keep that in mind." He nodded. "Sooooooo.... what are you doing out here in this weather?"

"A gift will be expected to be a proper guest. I am looking to collect materials," he says with a nod. "It's a bad day for it, but oh well. Want to maybe carve something up. Perhaps a nice sculpture?"

"That sounds like a great idea.... I am not really good at crafty things... I am more of a composition type of guy. I can help by foraging for some wood... is there a type that you may seek?"

"I prefer working with maple, but I didn't see anything that caught my eye. I imagine that the weather isn't helping me focus though," he says with a shrug.

"I know the feeling very well... I get easily distracted... You must have many things in mind." Kuroneko sighed. "I am worried that I have little in mind. I have been focused on the shrine that... well I have no worries now."

"It was good to do some manual labor. I like to do so from time to time. Practical crafting is as pleasant to me as artistic expression. The act of creation is a beautiful one."

"Yes probably you find enjoyment in that like I find enjoyment with my furry friends." He nodded. "Ah...Jiro san... since you like working with your hands and I remember you making some origami the other day... could you do me a favor?"

"I certainly hope that I can. It would be a pleasure to try at the very least," he says with a smile.

"Could you make me a few cats? If it isn't much of a bother... I know we just met here and.... well... I just want to have something to give to the few friends I have made." He smiled.

"I'm not sure I could carve that many with the time we have here, but I could fold you dozens of them if you like," he agrees with a nod. "Though, there is also the option of making it so that they are easily opened to reveal a small note, if you like. That way you can provide a small personal touch if you like."

He shook his head. "No carving Origami kitty envelopes would suffice." Kuroneko smiled