Encounter

Sunlight trickled through the canopy to light the overgrown path. Morning dew clung to the underbrush, making for slippery footing on the moss, and fern covered ground. Naito carefully navigated the deer trail ahead.

He had dressed in somber colored clothes today, as he didn't want to stand out while in the forest. His hakama was a dark, navy blue in color. While his haori, that overlaid his white juban, was a simple, solid black in color, and unadorned. The dark clothing made Naito appear pale as it contrasted with his silvery white hair.

[[*haori – kimono jacket that Japanese men often wear during this period. They tend to be subdued in color and carry woodblock printing of their family emblem on them amongst the higher social classes.]]

Ryuka paused every so often while following him. Dropping down to gather some wild mushrooms or herbs at the side. She had chosen to wear a plain, forest green kimono, which she had gathered around her obi, to raise the hem to make traveling easier.

The fox had relaxed since they left the village. When he was sure it was just the two of them around, he had let his human form slip a bit. His silvery white tails and pointed ears were visible for all to see right now.

Ryuka was used to it. Her companion often would do this, when they were in private. As it was an unnecessary strain for him to maintain his fully human form all the time.

Also, by appearing in front of her this way was also a sign of trust. One which she appreciated and abused at times, as she enjoyed rubbing those ears and petting his tails when they were younger, much to his embarrassment.

Still, he would accept whatever punishment she dealt out, as she was his closest, if not only, trusted friend. So, he would let his guard down around her, and in turn, she had shared her secrets about her powers with him.

Still though, she kept some secrets from him, and was sure that Naito held back a few on his part. Either way, she wasn't bothered by it. In time, they would open to each other more, when it was convenient.

Ryuka looked up from where she had stopped to pick an edible fern. Catching a glimpse of those silver tails, she quickly got up and went after them to catch up.

Coming around a large bush, she yelped in surprise as she stumbled into Naito. She caught herself just in time, only to have Naito hurriedly wave her down. Telling her to take cover.

"Shh!" he hissed as he dropped down behind the bush. Not questioning the fox's senses, she dropped to a crouch behind the bush with him.

Lowering his voice to a whisper, he shared the reason for her to hide.

"Up ahead and down to the left. There are people moving within the trees just down the slope," he paused as as one of his ears flicked to the side to listen. He then continued, "They are trying to be quiet. Could be hunters," he guessed.

Ryuka looked at Naito as he fell silent and pensive. She couldn't hear them, nor had she seen any movement, but she didn't doubt that they were there. This was one of the biggest benefits of traversing the forest with the kitsune.

Not being human, he was more in tune with nature and had greater perception of the surroundings. This allowed him to be more successful as a hunter, but also let him avoid trouble while in the woods. As very little could catch the fox off guard while in them.

He shifted his body to the side to look around the edge of the bush, then ducked back and whispered cautiously, "They're not hunters."

Ryuka grimaced.

"Bandits or bounty hunters?" She questioned softly. To which Naito answered with a shrug. He didn't know.

He just knew that hunters wouldn't wear armor, or at least, they wouldn't wear this type of heavily padded armor. It wasn't light enough to allow for the agile movement necessary to chase down four-footed quarry. Rather, the armor they wore seemed heavy. With a few of them having tiled metal plates attached to thick, stiff leather.

The men in question were five in number, and they had a variety of weapons on them. Two had large composite bows slung on their backs, while the other three had tachi, a type of Japanese long sword. Yet, this was not the limit of the weapons on them. He could clearly see daggers at their waists, as well.

[[*tachi – predecessor to the kantana, wakizachi and other blades that would come later during the Sendoku Jidai, or warring states era of Japan. The tachi is a heavier and longer than the katana that appeared later in history. It was considered inconvenient and a tad unwieldy in battle at this time in history, which is why samurai preferred bows in the Heien and Kamakura periods. Interestingly enough, many old tachi would be converted and remolded into katana between 1400-1600s, while tachi would be the term used for the large swords developed to take down calvary.]]

Naitos' tails and ears vanished like a cool mist dissipating in the heat of a summer's sun. His long silver hair was tied back into a low, loose ponytail, and Ryuka fought the urge to tug on those strands to get his attention. For he was focused and seemed to be preparing himself to jump to action.

She successfully suppressed the impulse, and tugged at his dark colored haori as she asked in a hushed tone, "Can't we avoid them?"

Naito shook his head as he replied, "I don't think so."

He reached for an arrow and notched it in the bow as he continued, "You should hide... or prepare your magic."

From this, Ryuka deduced that Naito didn't think they could depart the area without being seen. Thus, they were bound to meet these armed men, and it was likely there would be some type of exchange in this confrontation.

Staying low, he crept forward, while Ryuka set the basket down and mentally prepared herself.

'How long had it been since we last fought?' she thought as she entered the state of oneness with the world.

In this state of mind, her body would not confine her mind and will, thus allowing her to feel the world around her. It was like a state of mind that Buddhist monks would enter for enlightenment, and it was a necessary precursor to touching the elements and interacting with them.

Sensing the wealth of life around her, she could clearly segregate the elements that she was more in tune with and meld them at will. A peaceful breeze drifted through the tops of the trees overhead as she gathered the power over air.

Through it, she could clearly sense the five men that were down the hill from them. Ryuka had to agree with Naito. These were not hunters. At least not the type of hunters who would stalk the normal wildlife of the mountains.

Their weapons and armor were not the type for such task. They were tools of murder, as evident from the faint whiff of blood that the wind had brought her.

As they drew closer, she could hear them talking lowly amongst themselves. However, she couldn't exactly make out what they were saying, but Naito could. His expression became nasty, and Ryuka hadn't missed the change.

She couldn't help it any longer, and curiously asked in a whisper, "What are they saying?"

He turned to face her, his blue eyes capturing her gaze, and spoke gravely, "They're bounty hunters. It seems they are looking for the family members of a priest."

Ryuka's golden eyes widened in surprise as she wondered, but couldn't complete the thought before Naito added, "They're looking for you."