love shining in her voice.
“I have been remiss. Please allow me to introduce you.” The beautiful blue, transparent insect creature glittered like pure dew. “Bifuuko chan has been my companion since I was a small girl. Daitanishi chan…” The truculent little rock sat and somehow seemed to communicate a grumpy good will. “Has been with me just as long.” Chiri bowed. “They are most honoured to make your acquaintance.”
The air elemental seemed somewhat shy, if friendly. The rock, on the other hand, seemed to be keeping a careful eye upon one and all – an odd gift for a being with no discernable features. Daitanishi levitated up into the air, took another considering look at its new companions, then settled itself upon Chiri’s shoulder, where it perched like a watchful hawk. The air elemental shimmered up into the air and came nose-to-nose with Sura, who was absolutely delighted with the little creature.
“We have shugenja at Kitsune Mountain!” Sura peered at the shy insect creature; every tiny surface of it shimmered and roiled like a mirage on a hot day. “You can summon other elementals?”
“Oh indeed, Sura san. If they sense that I am in true need. And others come forth to simply say hello.” The gentle rat gathered up her cooking tools. “When you are friends with the spirits, you are never truly alone.”
Sura went off to wrap up her gear – incidentally wiping her hands clean upon Kuno’s bed roll as she passed.
“ Right! Ayamejo! Festival time.” Fox rolled up her bedroll with careless speed, and found her beloved spear. “Let’s get going. Kuno mustn’t be late for his beating.”
Kuno took up his armour and equipment, shooting a dark glare at the fox.
“Lady Sura, you are uncouth.”
“ And yet, oddly fascinating!” Sura pointed the way to the main road. “Yoiks and away!”
With her spear slanting carelessly across her shoulder, Sura led the way off along the open road. Their path joined a larger road, and then a larger one again. Soon there were carts, barrows, horses and oxen all sharing the way. Wandering peddlers and entertainers were hastening towards the castle town for the up and coming festival.
The tower of the castle became visible just past a stand of trees. As the travellers walked out into the fields, the entire town lay there before them on the plains. Iris flowers were just coming into bloom, speckling the lands with purple. Peasants dressed in festival clothing were streaming out of their houses and heading for the town. Children ran cheering past the incoming travellers waving sprigs of blossom, or with twigs that were intended to be swords. In honour of the day, the girls wore purple ribbons in their hair.
A band of mounted samurai thundered past beside the road, utterly splendid in their bright-laced armours. Sura waved and called out to them. One of the samurai called back, saluting with a riding crop. The fox revelled in the sunshine, in the movement and the clouds. She wandered well ahead of the others, delighting in the day. Her raucous voice carried far out over the fields as she sang.
“When I carry jugs of sakē, I have so many friends!
And I’ll always have some sak ē – on that you can depend!
When a girl-fox carries sak ē, she gets such big hugs!
For don’t you know that all the world loves a fox’s jugs!”
The fox set a merry pace. Chiri watched Sura in admiration and concern.
“ Tonbo san. Should we not stay closer to Sura san? You do not think that she will get into any trouble?”
Clomping tirelessly along in his armour, with his great heavy iron staff over his shou lder, Tonbo looked at Sura, and simply shrugged.
“ She is Kitsune Sura. Trouble is a certainty.”
Sura was swapping banter with a travelling puppeteer, and her spear almost knocked the hat clean off a nearby merchant. Tonbo hastened to the rescue and prevented a disaster before it could happen. Sura eagerly showed Tonbo the rack of puppets,
“I have been remiss. Please allow me to introduce you.” The beautiful blue, transparent insect creature glittered like pure dew. “Bifuuko chan has been my companion since I was a small girl. Daitanishi chan…” The truculent little rock sat and somehow seemed to communicate a grumpy good will. “Has been with me just as long.” Chiri bowed. “They are most honoured to make your acquaintance.”
The air elemental seemed somewhat shy, if friendly. The rock, on the other hand, seemed to be keeping a careful eye upon one and all – an odd gift for a being with no discernable features. Daitanishi levitated up into the air, took another considering look at its new companions, then settled itself upon Chiri’s shoulder, where it perched like a watchful hawk. The air elemental shimmered up into the air and came nose-to-nose with Sura, who was absolutely delighted with the little creature.
“We have shugenja at Kitsune Mountain!” Sura peered at the shy insect creature; every tiny surface of it shimmered and roiled like a mirage on a hot day. “You can summon other elementals?”
“Oh indeed, Sura san. If they sense that I am in true need. And others come forth to simply say hello.” The gentle rat gathered up her cooking tools. “When you are friends with the spirits, you are never truly alone.”
Sura went off to wrap up her gear – incidentally wiping her hands clean upon Kuno’s bed roll as she passed.
“ Right! Ayamejo! Festival time.” Fox rolled up her bedroll with careless speed, and found her beloved spear. “Let’s get going. Kuno mustn’t be late for his beating.”
Kuno took up his armour and equipment, shooting a dark glare at the fox.
“Lady Sura, you are uncouth.”
“ And yet, oddly fascinating!” Sura pointed the way to the main road. “Yoiks and away!”
With her spear slanting carelessly across her shoulder, Sura led the way off along the open road. Their path joined a larger road, and then a larger one again. Soon there were carts, barrows, horses and oxen all sharing the way. Wandering peddlers and entertainers were hastening towards the castle town for the up and coming festival.
The tower of the castle became visible just past a stand of trees. As the travellers walked out into the fields, the entire town lay there before them on the plains. Iris flowers were just coming into bloom, speckling the lands with purple. Peasants dressed in festival clothing were streaming out of their houses and heading for the town. Children ran cheering past the incoming travellers waving sprigs of blossom, or with twigs that were intended to be swords. In honour of the day, the girls wore purple ribbons in their hair.
A band of mounted samurai thundered past beside the road, utterly splendid in their bright-laced armours. Sura waved and called out to them. One of the samurai called back, saluting with a riding crop. The fox revelled in the sunshine, in the movement and the clouds. She wandered well ahead of the others, delighting in the day. Her raucous voice carried far out over the fields as she sang.
“When I carry jugs of sakē, I have so many friends!
And I’ll always have some sak ē – on that you can depend!
When a girl-fox carries sak ē, she gets such big hugs!
For don’t you know that all the world loves a fox’s jugs!”
The fox set a merry pace. Chiri watched Sura in admiration and concern.
“ Tonbo san. Should we not stay closer to Sura san? You do not think that she will get into any trouble?”
Clomping tirelessly along in his armour, with his great heavy iron staff over his shou lder, Tonbo looked at Sura, and simply shrugged.
“ She is Kitsune Sura. Trouble is a certainty.”
Sura was swapping banter with a travelling puppeteer, and her spear almost knocked the hat clean off a nearby merchant. Tonbo hastened to the rescue and prevented a disaster before it could happen. Sura eagerly showed Tonbo the rack of puppets,
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