(Day 4, EA) Back In The Saddle Again

[Matsu Kogo]

She nods, not quite ready to speak of the loss and its effect on her family. "It was. But he died well. That was a comfort." She ponders. "I am not sure. They seem less inclined to the cats than I was at their age. Kabu...he is still young and may take some time to puzzle out. But Hiro seems to be thinking of training at the Ikoma school. We were surprised to see what a thirst he had for history. So there are possibilities."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Another thing to consider... with a marriage to a Unicorn it may present the opportunity for your brothers or your future children to train with my clan. Who knows, maybe they'd take better to horses than war cats."

[Matsu Kogo]

She paused for a moment. "That is a thought I had not considered. It is true, they might. I have certainly taken to them more than I thought I would." She thinks. "The Ide are your dipolomats, if I recall. And the Moto are obviously skilled fighters. What are the Iuchi most known for?"

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"They're our priests. I don't imagine it would be as simple as just asking. Probably some politics that would go into it, but not an impossibility for your family with marriage ties."

[Matsu Kogo]

"Of course. It would have its own rules and requirements and they would have to prove themselves worthy. It is something to consider." She ponders. "It has been 7 months since I have seen them. I wonder how much they have grown since I left. "

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Kids do grow fast. Hopefully you'll get the chance to see them soon. I was told that the marriages won't necessarily happen immediately so you might get to go home first?"

[Matsu Kogo]

She thinks it over. "It all depends on what happens, I suspect. But it would be good to see them. "

as long as I don't have to go home disgraced. But I am starting to hope that won't happen.

"What would you do with the time if you had it prior to your wedding?"

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"If my future spouse didn't oppose, probably visit their family, whether I'm to join them or not. I think whoever it is and their family would appreciate the gesture. If it was possible to do so," he says.

[Matsu Kogo]

"That would likely be appreciated, I suspect. And give you a chance to know them and understand more prior to the marriage." She pauses. "You might enjoy meeting the other beast masters and their cats. It is... a jumbled sort of reunion whenever we are together, but it is not boring. "

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"I'll bet it's exciting. And the lions probably get to have a bit of fun playing with each other too." He considers that sight. "That... would probably be dangerous to get in the middle of."

[Matsu Kogo]

She laughs. "We try not to interfere much, unless they are playing too hard." She smiles. "Once, when I was younger, the head lionness allowed me in to meet the cubs. I fell asleep with them and she stayed curled around me." Her eyes dance, remembering the moment. "When my mother came to find me, the lionness would not let her near. Finally, one of my aunties, who worked with the warcats often, was able to convince the lionness to let them near." She leaned back against him. "I started my training after that."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"That sounds like a lovely moment. I guess you have a real affinity with them. You and Noboru must be really close too if that's the case. Though you won't ever catch anyone sleeping among the horses. They sleep standing up, and if something were to spook them awake they'd be likely to trample you on accident."

[Matsu Kogo]

She nods. "We are. I was lucky with her." She laughs at his statement. "True, and I suspect if I had been any older or smarter, I would have known how dangerous that was. But I wanted to play with the cubs and then I grew sleepy. I am lucky it did not become a tragic family story."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"It seems you may have a fair bit of luck then too," he says with a chuckle. "Enough to not be a lion meal."

[Matsu Kogo]

She chuckles with him. "Yes, I suppose so." Her fingers continue their twining dance with his in front. She sighs for a moment, feeling the rest of the world intrude. "I suppose we will have to go back sometime, won't we?"