there's blood on the side of the mountain

Every night, the nightmare of the fire returned, wreaking havoc on her young mind. Maybe it was a curse that the spirits above deemed her worthy of. Or maybe it was bad luck. Whatever the reasoning, she hated it. Despised it, actually. If only it would leave her alone.

Countless days, she walked on what seemed endless lands. When she could, she slept, but never for long. And when the nightmare changed, shifting from a forest fire to drowning, she woke with a struggle. Water poured into her lungs, her limbs flailing. It wasn't a dream after all, apparently.

Pushing onward, she forced herself up on the dry lands. Coughing up an endless stream, she heaved, fighting for air. Then when her legs could hold her up no longer, she collapsed onto the green earth.

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@Kei @Kyo

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disco for arenrak — sorry for the long ramble lmao

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The dragon had been making her usual rounds throughout the key. While there had been awakenings within the claim, Niawaki was otherwise quiet. Perhaps another would find comfort in the silence and slip in their duties, allowing their guard to drop to merely meander along the coast, but @Kyo had given her more than enough reasons to hold steady. Personal motives aside, he was meeting wolves out in Arenrak. No surprise, really, you could see a wolf for miles out there and there wasn't much reason to hang around the pass but to pass through. What was more pressing was word that another pack might be closer than they thought.

Kyo hadn't shared anything, of course, but that wouldn't stop dumb luck from wandering paws discovering their slice of peace. They weren't ready to deal with foreign forces should a pack take offense to their presence, nor were those she had taken under her ready to follow the Honiyah by heart. None aside from herself and Kyo had earned a name to even speak with outsiders. A silent hiss slipped her lips as the dragon sulked the jungle edge, her nose low to the ground for pawprints or intruding scents. The last thing she wanted to do was rush anyone training, but it may be worth pulling the group together for a couple of lessons. They could learn together, maybe foster their bonds, and encourage each other's growth.

Her thoughts raged on like the crashing sea until the sea spat forth a waterlogged lump of fur that coughed and sputtered with life. Kei straightened her posture, head raising with newfound alertness as she watched the child before quickly rushing to her side. “Hey!” As she approached, it was clear the girl was young. Not even a yearling, but old enough to make her question what she was doing in oceans as strong as the one bordering Niawaki. Kei placed a paw along her back, almost offering a pat, but waited until the girl could catch her breath, “You good?”
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The girl's head jerked upright, her breaths still heaving. Was she alright? Well, not exactly. But she tried to put on a brave face.

“Yes..” She tried to sound confident in her answer, but it came out more questioning than anything else. “Sort of? Never exactly fallen asleep and woken up amidst water before...” It was definitely a first for her.

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Woke up amongst water? That threw out the “how did you get in here” question, maybe not the “where are you from” “Uhh, you… woke up?” It wasn’t the first awakening. Her and Kyo had seen it several times now, themselves included. Maybe something drew wolves to this place, but what she couldn’t say. “Do you remember where you were before? Where you’re from?” passive questions that wouldn’t speak of the claim they currently sat in or who she was. It was likely this girl knew nothing, or at the minimum was not a spy, but she couldn’t guarantee it. More importantly…they now had to watch the ocean for trespassers.
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Being berated with questions was not something she'd expected. But then, she also wasn't expecting being found in this condition.

Blinking hard, she reached for memories, trying to find answers for this woman's questions. “Matsunoyama... my family, they died in a forest fire. I fell asleep—somewhere—and thought that I was dreaming of drowning, then woke up. I don't... I don't know much else than that.”

She warily eyed the woman, hoping that would be enough to appease the stranger.

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In other words, a kid with no family and no home. If she could pinch the bridge of her nose she would. The old order took in kids on occasion. The ones who had no where else to go and were easy to expose to their way of life, but her order was still new. They didn’t have the adults knowledgeable to help guide this kid, just her and what the others had managed to absorb.

Kei sighed, “Any injuries? Don’t…think too hard on the logistics. Wolves wake up here sometimes. If you had anything before it’s likely gone for good.” a truth she would have to accept regardless. It felt better to be up front and get over the major hurdles now.
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If you had anything before, it's likely gone for good.

Gone... they were all gone...

Forgetting the shivering of her body, her mind wandered to the reality of the woman's words and the stabbing pain in her chest.

Nodding vacantly, she stared at the ground. “They're all gone...” Tears pooled from her weary eyes, her limbs struggling to keep her in an upright position.

What was she to do now without them? She'd known that they had all likely died in the fire—but now that she truly had the capacity to take in everything that had happened, it all became so surreal. And it hurt. Like nothing she'd ever felt before. Suddenly, she didn't know how to cope. What to think. What to do. She was lost. Completely.

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The girl crumbled beneath the surface, the weight of her words crashing down along with the reality of her situation. Kei could see it behind her eyes; she knew the look all too well. It wasn't the first time she had met a girl alone and lost. It stirred her stomach with a weight of guilt and bitter acid, knowing where her kindness had once led. But things were different now. It was Kei who ran the Order, not her mother, and this girl was not taken as a sister. As a replacement.

The dragon softly huffed, patting the girl's back briefly. “Do you remember your name?” Did she have a name? She would still have to earn one on her own time, but it was easier if she had something to start with. “Don't—” Kei grimaced, picking the words from her tongue carefully, “Cry. They might not be here, not physically, but it doesn't mean you have no connection to them. Everything is connected.” Maybe they would be reunited in another life, but the last thing Kei wanted to do was give her false hopes.

“...We can teach you how. You don't have to be alone.”
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She sniffled quietly, surprised by the woman's kindness and comfort. But it was a relief too, in a sense.

“Mizuki,” she answered, shuffling carefully.

The woman's words were indeed valid. She'd known that there was a spirit to all—a soul that carried on, even in the afterlife. “My mother spoke of spirits and souls often, even when I was too young to understand. They walk through and with us, even when they're not here. I feel them... I do. But it doesn't fully replace their physical being. Their words... their warmth and comfort...” She sighed, glancing elsewhere for a breif moment. Her family was no more. And while she may not be entirely alone in this moment, she still somewhat felt it.

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Mizuki. Okay, she could work with that. Kei hummed, “別の言語を話しますか? — You speak another tongue?” It didn't matter if she didn't, but as proven with Kyo, Japanese at a bare minimum was beneficial to know. Maybe it wasn't so surprising that Mizuki already had the right idea when it came to a soul. It was more than a soul that was binding. The cosmos, stardust, everything became one. But she was right, “It doesn't...” Nothing would make that physical loss easier. The vessel was a part of who you were at the end of the day. A part of you is lost when you die, but that part could be reborn. “Maybe you will find another that fills that memory. If it's fated, the universe has a way of bringing souls back together.”
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She perked up a little when she heard a familiar tongue spill from the woman's lips. “これは私の母国語です. 私は母国語を共通語としても話せるように育てられました. — This is what I was raised to speak, but also in the common tongue.” It was a relief to know there were others here similar to her. Made her feel just a little more at home.

“I can only hope that our souls may be rejoined. I have always been nothing without my family. Our bond, it was strong.” But could she form new ones just as strong? Only time may tell.

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One again, her tongue would be parroted back with native fluency. For something she hadn't heard in over a year, it was funny how the Kami now seemingly worked in her favor. “Only one way to find out.” Time of course, but with the right guidance, the Divination of Runoma may serve her well. It was a path Kei always struggled with. Too much sitting still and listening where she would rather take action, but it seemed Mizuki already had some kind of base to work with that may help that adjustment.

“Family doesn't define you. You can be something here if it's what you want.” Her conscious would feel better if a child didn't turn away, but at the end of the day, she couldn't force her to stay. “I have a pack here. Ya kinda washed up on our shores.” Fate maybe. It was a little cliche to lean so heavily on fate, but she wouldn't deny the conveniences as they lined up. “Sounds like we might have a path that would suit ya. Something that can connect you spiritually to more than just those you've lost.”
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A pack? Here? The girl's head tilted in wonder.

“What sort of pack? And what path?” She didn't even know herself in what she might suite, especially at such a young age.

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“A pack that brings balance. It's...reclusive, admittedly. We prefer to work where we can't be seen, share only what is necessary, but it's for the good of everyone. Everything. There's four paths a wolf might take here. One is aligned spiritually. Understanding the world and how we are linked through the cosmos.” There wasn't much more she could say without dipping into the teachings themselves, and needless to say Mizuki was still a stranger. She would have to be one of them to know what she meant in practice.

“As I said, we don't teach outsiders. I can't share more as strangers, but if it interests you, then there is a lot more to learn. If it's not the path you want, don't worry about bein' locked in; the goal is to find a purpose that serves you. Can learn from other paths too; it's more so about what you want to have a dedicated role in.”
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She listened closely to the words spoken, nodding along. It all sounded intriguing, and much like something she would be interested in pursuing.

“I would have no qualms becoming one with your people. Learning is what I live for, and continuing my knowledge in what my mother was passionate about. Spiritual guidance is something she loved to pursue. I very much want to do the same, if you'll give me the chance.” Her saddened expression turned hopeful, a new light shinning in her gaze. Would this be her chance for a new start?

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“Alright then. You good to walk? Need a minute? It's a bit of a hike to the dens, but they're more sheltered than out here. Won't get wet and blocks out the wind.” At least Mizuki wasn't that young. Old enough where she could leave her be and not worry about her tripping down the cliffs or walking into a predator's mouth. “I'll show you the temple, and then we can work on the rest.” Kei couldn't wait for the others to match her knowledge when it came to the Honiyah. It was getting tiring to repeat the same information over and over.

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Can fade / close with your next post! Same as before Kei will fill her in on everything on the pack page and compendium entry while they travel the territory

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