[D9 EA] Here, there, and everywhere [expecting]

[Usagi Tsukimi]

Tsukimi had rolled up the entrance to her yurt to let the sun in, and to make sure Baatar could find her. Spread out in the yurt were her collection of maps. Most, hand-drawn herself, of Hare lands. Detailed cartography of her hometown, and several different locales.

She had tea on, and tied up outside her yurt was a young lamb, munching on grass.

[Moto Baatar]

Moto Baatar arrived at Tsukimi's yurt that afternoon, but got distracted by the lamb tied up outside. Approaching it slowly, the young Unicorn offered the animal a bit of apple in an effort to befriend it.

"That's a good sheep," he said encouragingly, as the lamb took the food.

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"Ohayo, Moto-san!" the Hare said cheerfully, and smiled at the sight of him with her lamb.
"Ah yes, this is Nagareboshi-san. He is my new companion. I promised his mother we would send her letters of our travels when we leave the miai! Have you had your rice today?"

[Moto Baatar]

"Ohayo, Usagi-san," Baatar echoed, standing up from where he had been feeding the lamb. "I've eaten, thanks! Your new companion? How did that happen?"

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"I had the idea a few days ago, and spoke to a few Unicorn... and eventually struck a trade. I gave up my wicker umbrella, which I've had since I was a girl, and the spices I brought from home." She smiled a little. "But, totally worth it." She petted the sheep softly, and it bleated.

Presumably happily?

[Moto Baatar]

"Well, uh, congratulations!" Baatar said, noticing Tsukimi's obvious pleasure with the trade she had made. "I guess they must not have sheep in Usagi City, then? Are you planning on keeping him for wool, or as a pet?"

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"I'm hoping he learns to travel well." she says earnestly with a nod of her head. "Would you like some tea, Moto-san?"

[Moto Baatar]

"Sure!" Baatar agreed. "Tea sounds nice." He looked to follow Tsukimi's lead for where they would drink tea.

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"Excellent," she smiled and bid him inside. Scattered around, maps. All the maps. So many maps.
The one closest to the tea set was this:

She handed to it Baatar, before pouring two cups.
"A relatively simple map of Hare lands. An overview, really, but you said you were interested in what the lands are like?"
She motions to a tatami mat, for him to take a seat and look at his leisure.

[Moto Baatar]

Baatar sat down and pored over the map with interest. "This looks neat! So is this castle where you are from?" he asked curiously. "I remember hearing Usagi Tomoe say that your province isn't far from the Unicorn lands, but the map shows Shiro no Usagi near a big forest and there's no forest near us, is there? What direction is Dark Edge Village from the things on this map?"

The young Unicorn accepted the offered cup and took a sip of tea before looking at the map some more.

[Usagi Tsukimi]

She chuckled slightly at Baatar's wonder and interest, but shook her head at his questions.
"No, I am not from Shiro Usagi. The Hare clan was only formed seven years ago. My aunt and I joined shortly thereafter; we were ronin before that."

Tsukimi picked up her cup, fetched another map, and took a seat next to Baatar. "Dark Edge Village is... north, of Shiro Usagi, very north. Super north." She nodded her head a bunch.

[Moto Baatar]

"The Hare Clan is so young? I hadn't known," Baatar admitted. "The stories I heard about Reichin made it sound like something that happened a long time ago. Where do you live, then, if not Shiro Usagi? Did you have to walk far to get here?"

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"My aunt and I, we trade along the River of Gold," Tsukimi explained. "The travel here was not too difficult; through Scorpion lands, then Lion lands, and finally here."

[Moto Baatar]

"I've heard of the River of Gold. It isn't on this map, though, is it?" Baatar asked. "Are you part of a caravan that follows the river, or do you ride a river boat?"

[Usagi Tsukimi]

She points to the river marked "Kawa no kin" - "That's it, there," she says softly.
"Um. Both? Depending on the season, and what we have to trade, I mean. I'm used to being on the proverbial road, constantly moving, seeing new places, waking up somewhere different than the day before."