Heavenfall

"Naturally. I certainly didn't come here for my health."

"Right!" Ok, she found a thread. Time to cling to it and see where it would lead this time.

"So, when you see a phoenix, you'd think of Shiba, yes? And that would make you happy, yes?"

"Possibly. But only because I know about the connection."

Saruko huffed and pouted with some annoyance. "You're no help, dummy!" While she had matured a lot since they first met, she was, and would probably always be, Shirayuki.

"I'm sorry I just... don't think I grasp what you're getting at... we'd put a phoenix on a flag and hope everyone in camp gets the idea?"

"It would be a symbol of unity! Of the common purpose we all have here!"

Or maybe she was grasping at straws for ideas to keep up morale as they marched closer to hell.

"Even the tribal types who barely grasp who Shiba is? I feel like we'd need to hold a meeting just to explain it to them..."

He paused.

"Maybe a Phoenix in the middle of a circle of the others? Like, the Dragon, the Spider, the Bat, the Ki-Rin, all in a ring around it? It would be a bit easier for someone new to the idea to pick up on."

Her eyes alit as Sora grasped the idea, and even expanded upon it.

"Yes!"

Poor Sora would not have a chance to escape as she threw her arms around him in a big hug.

"Uhm... you're welcome? Maybe some symbol for the Nezumi, too? Not in the circle, but adjacent to it in some way?"

"Hmm... yeah, the Nezumi should have a symbol too."

She let go of Sora, and was thinking further ahead now. "I think I have most of the supplies to make something too... it's going to take some time, but I think I can do it. Yes! I'm certain I can do it!"

"Seems to be a consistent theme there."

He chuckled.

"As it stands, I much prefer your efforts to leaving this sort of thing to the Crane, so I'm glad you beat them to it."

"Nanzi's good at some things, but artistic stuff isn't his strong suit. Kaze is quite talented with poetry though." She certainly didn't seem to have anything against the latter.

"Kakuro's pretty good at making stuff... hmmmm... I haven't seen him around in a while. I hope he's ok after the swamp."

"Probably as okay as any of us were after the swamp."

"Well..." she paused for a moment. "Some are worse of than others... not everyone had strange dreams that led them into the swamp at night. I know I didn't. What about you?"

"Nah. Slept like a log that night."

"None of the other Dragon had any strange calls out there either..." she had heard various talk of who went out, but she knew neither Nadare or Wu had been among them.

"Anyway, I should get back to fixing up this statue here... uh..." Saruko hesitated, looking at Sora cautiously. "I know she's already got one bodyguard but... keep an eye on Reiko, will you? I'm worried about her. And not because of these agents of Jigoku coming after us, and her."

"Why, what's up?"

She gave a small shake of her head. "... I'm probably just being paranoid, and I sincerely hope it's not the case, but... she's admitted she doesn't trust Hantei's presence here. From her words, which I assume is from Fu Leng, she has said that Hantei threw Fu Leng further away from the rest."

Judging by Saruko's expression, she seemed to doubt that is what actually happened. In fact, she seemed confident that it wasn't the full truth. "I can understand wanting to believe the one she loves. I do. But I am worried about it warping her perception of things. And that the realm of Jigoku might be warping Fu Leng's perception as well, even if it hasn't yet managed to claim him."

Saruko gave him a very serious look. "Whatever my personal feelings, and yours, of Hantei are - I doubt he is here to see us fail. Or to cause harm."

"His having brought his wife along certainly supports your point. Have you spoken to Hantei about this?"

"No... no I haven't spoken to anyone about it. Well, except you." she shook her head again. "... Do you think I should?"