Warding the Wagon (D5, EA)

[Shoji Haka]

"That works." Haka smiles and returns to the pile of sticks. "This one was born blind, so she never learned anything to do with letters."

[Bayushi Umeno]

"Well I'm not great with letters either. Never had reason to learn being a bushi," Umeno admitted, though she didn't feel Haka would judge her about it. "A lot of my former tribe learned, to help with trade and art, but doesn't come up often in my line of living."

"... Suppose both of us get by just fine without really."

[Shoji Haka]

"This one does just fine without it," Haka says, evidently not too shaken up about the loss. "It seems like a lot to remember in any case."

[Bayushi Umeno]

Umeno gave a grunt. "Un. Too much to be honest. Never found a situation where talking doesn't work just fine... or action."

"Still, it's got to be a lot to remember stuff about spirits and dolls and stuff like that. Not quite like 'take hammer, hit things', if you catch me."

[Shoji Haka]

"This one supposes so... but those who do not remember are often dragged into the air and devoured while screaming, so there is something of an incentive."

[Bayushi Umeno]

Haka could hear the grumble in the Scorpion's tone. "Fortunes. Glad my hammers don't try to drag me away. Sounds like my line of work's safer, even if it's probably got a higher mortality rate."

[Shoji Haka]

"Can it be safer and more dangerous at the same time?" Haka genuinely ponders the question. "Eating woman is a blacksmith, then? Or a fighter?"

[Bayushi Umeno]

The name took her a moment to remember, but she finally gave a small laugh. "I suppose fighter works. I was a guard for my tribe, and now serve about the same for my clan. Not that I'm guarding much here, other than my lord's interests."

[Shoji Haka]

"So Eating woman left her tribe to serve one of the fallen ones?" Haka scooped up another batch of stick-people. "That is an odd choice, is it not?"

[Bayushi Umeno]

"Don't know about other tribes. A lot of Kuwagaya left to join the Kami, and I thought a lot of other tribes had as well. Still, got nothing against those that've stayed with their people. If it weren't for circumstances, I can imagine I'd still be a Kuwagaya myself."

"What's your tribe like Shoha? Not really that knowledgeable about other places and people, I admit."

[Shoji Haka]

Haka speaks more loudly as she carries the stick figures toward the camp's edges. "The Shoji live far to the north and far to the west. We ensure that the world is not overrun with hungry ghosts."

[Bayushi Umeno]

"Makes sense how you are then, what you do I mean, how you feel about our situation." North and west was a long ways off from anything Umeno knew. "Aren't any ghosts that I've ever seen coming from the sea. Guess that's why I don't know anything."

[Shoji Haka]

"This one has heard stories of a great ghost fish that haunts the wastern waters, surrounded by the skeletal remains of water birds that circle around it, but it is most likely just a story made up by others." Haka eventually returns, rubbing her hands on her dress to clean them.

"But yes, it does.seem that the forest of the Shoji is more prone to ghosts than elsewhere. Most likely due to the gateway in its depths. It leads to the land of the dead."

[Bayushi Umeno]

Umeno gave a sigh before taking a drink from her bottle. "Un. Not the sort of place I'd care to stay, but I suppose living there you get used to it."

[Shoji Haka]

"Not entirely, but some of it maybe. If anything, it is strange that so few others know the rules." A soft sigh. "But, no matter. This one will keep them safe even if they are being stupid from time to time."

[Bayushi Umeno]

"We all know the rules for where we've always been. The Hikaru know the rules of raiding, mine know the rules of the sea, and yours know the rules for spirits." Umeno gave a sharp, quiet laugh and smiled. "If we end up at the sea, I'll help you out, long as you keep me safe from spirits Shoha."

[Shoji Haka]

Haka laughs as well. "That is a good point! A very good way to think about it. Though this one would not do so well on a boat, she thinks."

[Bayushi Umeno]

"No one does, the first time. Not unless they go on first as a child. Still, I think you'd enjoy it. The sounds, the smells, the sensations... all like nothing you'd ever find on land." Umeno paused before giving a little smirk. "Besides, it's all just a vista of blue, nothing to see."

[Shoji Haka]

"That does sound interesting," she says, her tone matching her words. "Perhaps once we finish this expedition I will visit the ocean. This one wonders if her companion could float across the waves... if not, it might finally be the end of it."

Her expression turns thoughtful.

[Bayushi Umeno]

"I'm not an expert on boats, but they're pretty easy to stay aboard, so I'm sure you'll both be fine," Umeno said playfully. She sighed a bit after. "S funny. I never cared much about the sea while I was right beside it, but I kinda miss it now I'm living inland."