This Tent Has People In It (D3, LM)

[Shoji Haka]

After waking up in a damp tent, thanks to someone setting it up in low spot, Haka awkwardly drags it up the hill and next to the first other tent that she can find. Getting it set up takes longer than expected,and she ends up going back and forth quite a bit, feeling each rope to make certain that it is firmly in the ground.

[Shinsei]

Haka, being quite used to unexpected presences showing up whenever they please, likely isn't too surprised when one seems to materialize out of nowhere to inspect her work as she sets up her tent. The lone, darkly hooded figure doesn't speak, merely observing her work in quiet contemplation.

The crow which usually sits on his shoulder is mysteriously absent.

[Shoji Haka]

Haka finishes with the ropes, then shifts into a crouching position. "That should suffice," she finally says. "It was too wet in the valley below."

[Shinsei]

Shinsei looked around the camp briefly, then back to Haka with a curious expression. "The valley below? Do you mean the river? That certainly would make for a strange place to set up camp, though I've never tried it myself."

[Shoji Haka]

"Perhaps? It was not wet when this one laid down to sleep, but perhaps she was on the banks and the waters rose in the morning." There's an ambivalent shrug. "Either way, this one would not recommend it."

[Shinsei]

"Certainly another possibility. I do enjoy to sleep in a relatively dry environment, so you shouldn't have to worry about that happening again over here." Shinsei looked around at the other tents scattered throughout the camp. "Out of curiosity, why did you choose to move here, of all the other options?"

[Shoji Haka]

"Oh, this one just started pulling her tent uphill, and this is where it evened out." There's a pause as mild concern creeps into her voice. "This one hopes that her presence is not unwanted. She just got the tent staked down."

[Shinsei]

Shinsei shook his head, though whether he knew the gesture was futile or not was anyone's guess. "Nothing of the sort, I was simply curious. I'd rather not go around giving myself a reputation of being unapproachable. You can always tell when things are getting out of hand when people start moving their tents further and further away."

[Shoji Haka]

"It could also mean that one is smelly or prone to snoriny," she points out. "Not that hill man smells unpleasant at the moment."

Haka stands up and straightens out her dress. "The person camped here is Haka, of the Shoji. She has no idea if she snores, but she is fairly certain she does not smell too unpleasant just now."

[Shinsei]

"I... thank you for the compliment? Though I'm also uncertain if I'm prone to snoring." Shinsei noted the highly formalized manner in which Haka addressed herself, and even leaned forward to lightly sniff the air as well. "To use your form, this one is Shinsei, the wanderer. He is pleased to meet you, and assures you that you bear no offensive aroma about your person. He might even say you smell pleasant, but is fairly certain he's standing upwind."

[Shoji Haka]

"That does help," she chuckles. "Tomorrow morning, we shall learn if one of those camped here is loud. Or loud enough to be a bother, at least."

Ahe turns to one side, then another. "Perchance is there a place this one can sit? A tree stump or rock or the like?"

[Shinsei]

"If it takes until the morning to learn about the noise, the offender is either not that noisy, or the offended is patient indeed." Turning to look over his shoulder, Shinsei confirmed the direction of his chosen meditation rock from where they both stood. "I made certain when I set myself up that there was a large flat rock nearby, it's a short distance behind me currently."

[Shoji Haka]

"Wonderful." Haka slowly makes her way over to the rock, feels it out, and sits down. "Much better. This is the first chance this one has had to relax all morning."

She stretches, then her hands through her hair, pulling out her braids. "Has the wanderer learned how much further it is to the destination? This one does not mind the marching, she is just curious."

[Shinsei]

Shinsei carefully took a seat across from Haka, having found a rock that could comfortably fit two for reasons that were entirely not because it was a stereotype for wise wanderers to provide council from rocks. Interestingly, he didn't seem to move to intervene or assist Haka as she moved, largely because she didn't seem to be requesting the assistance. The question made him look towards the darkness to the south, eyes narrowed.

"Some time yet. If my estimation is correct it takes a week of straight marching to get there, and taking breaks in between to allow us rest doubles the time." His eyes swept back to his company. "I suppose you can't look to see how far we are from the looming darkness. A few might envy you for that."

[Shoji Haka]

Haka chuckles. "It is fairly easy for someone to gouge out their eyes, if they are truly envious. This one suspects that few will do so."

[Shinsei]

"I wouldn't be so certain. We know not how deep Jigoku's influence runs where we intend to tread." Shinsei crossed his legs and forced his mind away from the patch pf shadow lingering over the south. "But such speculation helps no one. Regardless of what awaits, we must journey there to achieve our goals."

[Shoji Haka]

Haka tilts her head to one side. "Who is this Jigoku? The one we seek to rescue?"

[Shinsei]

"No, it is the influence from which we are rescuing. A realm devoted solely to evil and darkness." Shinsei's face lined with concern. "Has nobody told you the dangers towards which we march?"

[Shoji Haka]

"They spoke of dangers to body and spirit. That was all." She shrugs. "This one believes that they did not know of the specifics."

[Shinsei]

"I suppose it's to be expected, few know the true dangers of the realm. Even I can only speculate at some of them, but the threat it poses is great." His voice took on a fierce edge. "We must deny it the prize it seeks, at all costs."