You Never Know What You'll Find (D7, EM)

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"Most, I imagine, don't have to travel as much or as far." he nodded. "You've remained close to your shrine, yes?"

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"As vast as the Empire is, you must have a really good reason to move about!...Ah, stop!" She cried out to the horse when she realized she wanted to stop now, getting close enough to Kemuri so that they didn't have to raise their voices to talk.

It took a while for her to remember that she needed to show her request with some body language and she sat back in the seat to get Sarangerel to finally stop a few steps away from where Kemuri was. Her grip was on the horn and the reins for dear life, in case he jolted to a stop. Thankfully, he didn't!

"...Yes! I'm expected to serve there almost all year round. We get fewer visitors during the winter, but things pick up quickly on the warmer months."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"What is winter like?"

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"We get a little bit of snow..." Hotaru narrowed her eyes on Kemuri for a moment, realizing that she was much taller on a horse and people had to look up to talk to her, for once. Quickly filing away that note, she continued on with her answer. "But, that's enough to scare off most people from visiting. As a result, the temple is rather quite and almost lonely. The temple is still plenty warm, between the braziers and the incenses...but pretty hard to make that trek up the steps in the snow, that's for sure! Sometimes we just have to bring our services to the local town, Tengoku's Path."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"Is it a lot of snow?" he asked with interest.

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"It really depends on the season and what the Fortune of Winds wish to bring us but we get like...a reasonable amount." She said with a few slow nods after recalling the last winter at the temple. "Sometimes up to my waist! Even though we don't have too many visitors to greet and accommodate, the snow keeps up plenty busy! We don't try to wander off too far, lest we catch the attention of Yuki-Onna."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

He smiled broadly. "It's been a long time since I've been able to enjoy snow."

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"...You don't get much snow in your travels around the Empire?" She brought up curiously. "I thought the Unicorn roamed around the lands in the north."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"I never saw any snow in the desert." he shook his head. "I don't recall any during the Dark Ride, either. The last I remember was when I was a child and we were far to the west."

[Bayushi Hotaru]

She gave him an elongated blink. "Oh, really? I think you're in for something then. I believe the Unicorn lands neighbour the Dragon lands? If you get as much snow as they get up in the mountains, from what I've heard, you're probably going to be buried in it for most of the winter months. This is where snow is plenty, compared to the rest of Rokugan."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"That should be interesting." he grinned. "I look forward to it. Do you feel more confident in your riding, Bayushi-sama?"

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"A little more!" She said with a chuckle as she gave Saran's mane a small pat. "But probably not enough to own a horse, anytime soon. Thank you very much for loaning out your horse. I think it's perhaps best if you were still the one to guide your faithful companion back to the camp."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"You did very well, thank you for taking good care of him." he said as he moved up to pat Sarangerel's neck. "He enjoyed it."

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"You can tell? That's good! Thank you, and you are great!" She said, talking directly to the horse. Truly, it went better than last time when she really spooked the horse with her sudden breaking.

"Shall we head back to the camp then?" She said before glanced down from her spot on the horse. "Uhm, should I get down first...or pull you up?"

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"I'll join you up there." he nodded, giving the horse another affectionate pat before working with Hotaru to climb up into place.