Heavenfall

Jin had pondered seeking out and giving Shinjo a piece of his mind for her disappearing act but, after finding his center, he decided to leave that to her husband... and not interrupt whatever other things might occur after.

Instead, having heard that things had gone well with the Crippled Bone, Jin made his way towards their encampment.

"Hail, brave warriors of the Crippled Bone. I hoped to speak with you. Permission to enter your camp?"

Sora, Nezumi Alliance advocate that he was, had tagged along- in part just to be neighborly.

"So... evil duplicates, fated youths, and coming war between realms... never a dull day, huh?"

The Imperial Babysitter chuckled.

"I dunno, it's starting to feel pretty normal for this trip."

"I think I may be ready for a dull, normal life after this... if we survive this. But if the cycle is upon us I think any such want shall be denied regardless." He chuckles and shakes his head, "Not sure how Shinjo expects me to find a wife when there's always a new crisis to face. Managing one 'family' is hard enough and that one doesn't require raising kids."

"Hey, at least you don't have friends trying to jumpstart your love life through well-intentioned rumors..."

"Koyama was asking about my interests a few nights back so I might not be entirely safe from that. Well, I suppose his methods will be blunter than rumors."

"Well, he's always been a straightforward sort. That said, I hope he didn't suggest just going for the first lady or gent that, ah, generates some physical interest..."

A pause.

"Not that my hopes generally pan out, of course."

"That was certainly one of his criteria, yes, though he recognizes there's more to love than just that, thankfully." Jin chuckles

"Well, Shinjo's been good for him. He fell hard, and he fell fast."

"Well can't blame him there. If I had the ego to think myself worthy of a goddess I might have tried to beat him to it."

"See, I never thought of her that way at all. I mean, she's a lovely person, and easy on the eyes, but..."

Sora shrugged.

"It's a bit like looking up at the stars."

Jin nods, "I can understand that."

"Not that I have a hell of a lot of experience to base the comparison on."

"Well that makes two of us for certain."

They're soon greeted by a Nezumi with sleek dark brown fur and sharp black eyes. "Many-many visitors today. Good-good you missed rains. You from hairless one camp?"

Jin nods, "They call me Jin, this is Jiyo Sora. I came for two reasons. First, in the fields of rubble, I found the skeleton of one of your kind. I do not know your burial rites but I erected a cairn, a pile of stones, over it so it would have some burial... and so your people could find it if there is a better means to care for it."

The rat nodded with a frown, looking down. "Yes-yes. Many dead, thrown on Terrible Day. Maybe we retake place, bury-bury them... more... right." He paused, then looked at Jin. "Maybe once you done-done here, you take shaman to hairless one camp. Meet with big-big people, talk about pit seal."

"Hopefully with more... success than we've had so far."

Sora sighed.

"Many of us agree that sealing the Pit as has been explained to us is commendable, but... there are personal issues in play."

Jin nods, "I was going to offer to aid any who remain in need of healing here in your camp but I am not opposed to assisting your shaman in that way. I would love to learn more about this magic and how this plan works. Hopefully we can convince those with doubts."