D1LN- Securing the Coming Dawn (Expecting)

[Seppun Dawei]

Dawei knows that a party will set out tomorrow, and he knows that he will be part of it. It was to that end he was sent south. But the beginning of a journey is a perilous time, and who knows what creatures await them--especially after the encounter with the one Nezumi earlier. So Dawei stalks out, and if he is not as stealthy as he has otherwise been in less familiar terrain, he is still quiet as he scouts the surroundings.

[Seppun Chisei]

For his part, Chisei is not especially quiet. However, he does seem to be quite good at following Dawei's lead, stepping here he steps, crouching when he crouches, allowing the more experienced woodsman to guide him.

Still, as they pause for a moment, Chisei edges closer, frowning thoughtfully. "Remind me," he whispers, "what it is that we're looking for?"

[Seppun Dawei]

"Threats" comes the reply. "It's not only Noriaki here, either."

He casts about for sign (Hunting 17), adding "Game would also be good."

[Seppun Chisei]

"I see." Chisei considered this. "Do you have any expectations, for either threats or game?"

He too glanced around, but mostly just kept his head down. "Expectations can be both good and bad, of course. It can help one to find a hidden trail, or lead one down a false path." He smiled gently. "I prefer to have none, but that is easier said than done."

[Seppun Dawei]

"Keep your voice down, cousin," he replies. "But no, no specific expectation. I've been on both sides of ambush enough not to take the chance, though, if I can avoid it."

[Seppun Chisei]

"Hmmm..." Chisei murmured, but didn't say anything more.

Instead, he stayed crouched, watching Dawei as the hunter did his thing.

[Seppun Dawei]

"I guess things're different for you here than before. How is being a Seppun treating you?"

[Seppun Chisei]

"Something of an adjustment." Chisei whispered. "But less than one might think. Life in the Isawa and life in the Seppun both center around ritual. The details have changed, but the core is very similar."

He continued to regard Dawei curiously. "Do you have much experience with other tribes, cousin?" He whispered. The 'cousin' sounded a little awkward on Chisei's tongue, but he tried it nevertheless.

[Seppun Dawei]

"Entirely too much of one," he replies. "Some with the others. More with the Families and Clans, now."

He continues to look, creeping ahead quietly.

"But it sounds like there's a deeper question in there."

[Seppun Chisei]

Chisei was silent as he followed; sneaking and speaking took more concentration than he could muster.

When next they paused, though, he smiled. "There's always a deeper question, whether heard or not, intended or not." He inclined his head to the hunter. "When we cannot find our own truths, we must depend upon the experiences of others. I have learned enough of you, cousin, that I give your experiences some measure of trust."

Gently, he shrugged. "But I think it is less to learn about other clans, and more to learn about you."

[Seppun Dawei]

"Gratified" comes as a reply to the comment on trust.

As to the rest, Dawei says "There's not much to tell, cousin. Akagi knows I can do things he can't but that still need doing. So I do them. And it seems some are learning it, too. Youko, for one."

[Seppun Chisei]

"Hmmm." Chisei considered this. "And how is Youko learning it? By what method, I mean, not the quality of her learning."

[Seppun Dawei]

"A fair bit has been doing like you are now. Some has been more explicit instruction. Where to strike a person to best effect. How to use weight and leverage to make yourself stronger than you are. Where people don't look.

"Demonstration, explanation, and practice."

[Seppun Chisei]

"Demonstration, explanation, and practice." Chisei echoed, still whispering. "A fine foundation on which to build knowledge."

He narrowed his eyes, still regarding Dawei curiously. "And where did you learn these things, cousin Dawei?" He asked.

[Seppun Dawei]

"Too much practice."

Dawei glances over his shoulder at Chisei. "We had a hard time of it before the Lord Hantei."

[Seppun Chisei]

Chisei acknowledged the first with a slow nod.

The second... "I'd heard. Especially with the Noriaki, it is said." Chisei nodded again. He frowned thoughtfully, his forehead creasing. "I confess, the tales I've heard of that first encounter with Lord Hantei and his brothers are rather hard to follow. Were you there?"

[Canary]

"Threats" comes the reply. "It's not only Noriaki here, either."

He casts about for sign (Hunting 17), adding "Game would also be good."

Dawei's keen eyes spot a rabbit pausing for a moment to look around some distance away.

[Seppun Dawei]

Dawei nods. "And sisters, recall. But, yes, I was there--and I had never seen such speed or power. Nor had Akagi. Nor yet had The Seppun. It was good that they were for us, rather than for the fu--the Noriaki."

Dawei pauses, about to say more when he sees the rabbit.

He slowly gestures to Chisei, pointing out the animal. And he just as slowly moves to string his bow and put an arrow to it.

[Seppun Chisei]

Chisei's eyebrows went up, and his lips parted, clearly about to ask another question.

Following Dawei's gesture though, he went as silent and as still as he could, scarcely breathing as the hunter readied his bow.

[Seppun Dawei]

Dawei falls silent as he draws the arrow to his cheek and lets it fly.

It is a clean kill.

Dawei moves up to retrieve the quarry, proceeding carefully in the darkness.