Dark Edge Village

Normally, when Akil brought Setem out to the fields, he would be actively riding the large horse. Unfortunately, today was not a normal day. The effects of last night's overabundance of painful food meant he was still not quite back to normal, and he wasn't going to risk expunging the evening meal on his horse's back.

So instead, he was walking beside Setem, holding the horse's reins for the moment while he found a spot to release them and let the horse run around on its own.

(Expecting someone)

Kogo came walking swiftly with Noburu in tow, looking around obviously. When she spotted Shinjo Akil, she brightened and moved a little quicker. "Konbanwa! How are you this evening Shinjo-sama?" She clicks her tongue and gestures for Noburu to stay back, until she can be introduced properly.

The horse did throw some side eye at the warcat, though Akil himself paid it no mind. He kept tight hold of the reins and bowed to the woman as she approached, poking Setem in that way that caused him to repeat the motion. "Matsu-sama. I am doing well, and hope the same can be said for you." He smiled politely as he rose, one hand reassuringly moving to his horse.

Shinjo Akil wrote:The horse did throw some side eye at the warcat, though Akil himself paid it no mind. He kept tight hold of the reins and bowed to the woman as she approached, poking Setem in that way that caused him to repeat the motion. "Matsu-sama. I am doing well, and hope the same can be said for you." He smiled politely as he rose, one hand reassuringly moving to his horse.

Kogo smiled in a small way, noting the horse's repeating of Shinjo-san's action. Well trained, to be sure. She speaks a command word and has Noburu stay back a few feet as she approaches, to give the herbivore some space. No need to test its training.

"I am well, and enjoying a lovely day and the coolness that evening brings. Would you introduce me to your lovely companion?"

He nodded to her, his face set into a calm smile. "Ah, of course. This is Setem, and I am his samurai, Shinjo Akil."

Shinjo Akil wrote:He nodded to her, his face set into a calm smile. "Ah, of course. This is Setem, and I am his samurai, Shinjo Akil."

She bows to both Shinjo-sama and Setem. " I am honored to meet you Setem. And thank you for allowing me to meet them Shinjo-sama." She looks back to Noburu. "Would you like to meet Noburu? I will understand if Setem does not, as Noburu may not be to their taste."

He looked to the lion and smiled. He was not exactly afraid of animals: it's not like they could brutalize him worse than he already has been. "I would be honored to meet Noburu, of course."

Shinjo Akil wrote:He looked to the lion and smiled. He was not exactly afraid of animals: it's not like they could brutalize him worse than he already has been. "I would be honored to meet Noburu, of course."

Kogo steps away from Setem and backs up a few feet. She uses a different command word and a hand gesture to indicate where Noburu should be. Noburu takes a stretch and then saunters over. Kogo raises an eyebrow at her and Noburu pushes her head under Kogo's hand at her waist. She scratches her head. "This mischevious one here is Noburu. Despite her nature, she is a serious warrior." Noburu seems to sniff the air to catch Setem and Shinjo-sama's scent. She offers a lionish smile.

Akil smiled to the war cat calmly, nodding his head to her. "It is a pleasure to meet you." He offered a hand slowly, letting the lion get a chance to regard him before saying to try a touch.

Shinjo Akil wrote:Akil smiled to the war cat calmly, nodding his head to her. "It is a pleasure to meet you." He offered a hand slowly, letting the lion get a chance to regard him before saying to try a touch.

Kogo was impressed by Shinjo-sama's bravery. Then again, from the tales she had heard of him the other night, facing down a Warcat was likely nothing. Still, many before had faltered. She clicks her tongue at Noburu, who takes the initiative to sniff Shinjo-sama's hand. She regards it well and then butts her head underneath his hand. Kogo clicks her tongue at her again, recalling her. "It appears she likes you Shinjo-sama. She is not usually so forward."

He smiled, petting the lion gently. "An auspicious sign, I would think. Certainly it is better at least than she trying to bite my hand off."

Shinjo Akil wrote:He smiled, petting the lion gently. "An auspicious sign, I would think. Certainly it is better at least than she trying to bite my hand off."

Kogo's smile turned up just a bit more. "Yes, that would certainly have been a poor way to start. Did you meet any cats like her in your travels? You seem to have some knowledge in dealing with them."

"Not as much, no," he shook his head, "I simply acted like I would with an unfamiliar horse. Being slow and patient is often. A wise plan with animals."

Shinjo Akil wrote:"Not as much, no," he shook his head, "I simply acted like I would with an unfamiliar horse. Being slow and patient is often. A wise plan with animals."

She nodded with his words. "You are very correct Shinjo-sama. Animals do not take well to fear or speed, especially predators like Noburu." She smiles. "Perhaps, like our companions, we may have more in common than it looks on first appearance."

"You may well be correct," he nodded. "I hope to help my clan get passed the misunderstandings between us and the rest of the Empire that we might integrate smoothly. Conflict so often is generated by simple misunderstanding, unfortunately."