The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

[Hentaispider]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

For the first time, the hermit actually smiles, and there is warmth in his eyes as he starts getting the bedding ready. There's only one bed, but he quickly pulls out a straw mattress and sets a cot on the floor for Kagura to sleep in before washing himself and going to bed.

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

After the acceptance, the situation at the house quickly moved on to preparing for sleep. While there was only one bed visible, the man was not unprepared as he produced a guest bed of sorts for the miko to use. It was a bit strange to see a supposed hermit have one, but once again he was proving to maybe not be quite as big a loner as rumored. Maybe those old friends of his did come around occasionally.

Not really wanting to be a bother, Kagura followed suit, doing her own quick washing and heading to bed as the man did so.

 

[Hentaispider]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

In Kagura's dream, the fox kills the eagle while the kites laugh at her attempts to save it before transforming into men and joining the fox in mocking her attempts to act like a miko.

When morning comes and she wakes up, the hermit and the goats are already gone, though there's some porridge near the fireplace for her to eat, as well as a large cheese and some bread for her to take as supplies.

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

Going through a fairly unlikable dream, Kagura found herself alone in the morning. There were no goats to be found outside, so the man had probably taken off with the herd already. It did not really bother her as she knew she was relatively safe, all things considered, and even had some food to eat. Not being one to turn the offer down, she went ahead and helped herself to the porridge before gathering the supplies and heading back out into the world.

 

[Hentaispider]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

As Kagura descends towards the forest line, she comes across two old timers sitting around a campfire, roasting some kind of bird. They're quite well dressed, and possess long hair, neat beards and long noses. As she gets closer, one of them waves at her, but they do not speak. They do not seem to have much in the way of camping equipment, and it is certainly strange for such gentlemen to be out and about without at least a servant or possibly several.

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

Getting back towards the path she had arrived from the day before, Kagura was met with a somewhat odd sight near the edge of the forest. Two older fellows having themselves a barbecue of all things, which was certainly not the first thing she expected to see in her day. They seemed harmless enough, being older gents after all, but there were some features about them that set off bells in the miko's mind. The noses in particular were something she had heard about before, and it was not necessarily something she wanted to end up on the wrong end of. Getting a move on, she would wave back and leave, unless she was actually addressed by either before she could make it. No matter the hostility, she would try to remain in her good manners.

 

[Hentaispider]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

As Kagura starts going around the camp, the wizened figures start speaking to each other, though she is clearly meant to hear the words. "What do you think the trickster will do?" "Oh, who cares. She won't escape the demodand anyway, not for a second time." "She could with help." "Help from who? The trickster won't help her again, not after she spurned him."

Were Kagura to ignore them, the two tengu would continue bickering until she passes out of hearing range. Soon after midday, she arrives at the meadow where she last heard giant bees approaching. No such sound is forthcoming this time, and the air seems eerily still.

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

While initially having had a fair bit of reservations towards these two, the words they said would stop Kagura in her tracks. These two really knew how to push her buttons, and had far too much info on her to be there out of simple coincidence. No, she would not go on just yet. Instead, she would stay around and hear what these two had to say to her. It seemed to be of great importance, so she might be needing to hear what they had to share with her.

 

[Hentaispider]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

One of the two men cackles as Kagura stops on her tracks. "Wise of her to listen." "Yes. Very wise. Perhaps she could have our help." "Perhaps. Of course, such help comes at a price." "What price can you put to wisdom?" "A quite high one, of course."

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

As maybe expected of them, the oldies soon developed some further interest towards Kagura as she stayed her ground. They did go on about her, but not revealing anything further as the miko had been hoping for them to do. "Go on please." she would say to them as they mentioned something about a price.

 

[Hentaispider]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

"Ah." For the first time, the two tengus actually look at Kagura. The first one - with a short, well-maintained beard - replies. "Now, then. What price would you be willing to pay?"

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

"I don't have much to give. What is it that you want?" Kagura would reply, really not having much in her name at the moment. She could make a guess or two as to what she might be required to do, but would want to hear it from the oldies themselves.

 

[Hentaispider]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

"Not much..." the second tengu with a longer beard mutters. "Troubling. Very well. The payment, then, will be three bottles of koshu from the mansion's wine cellar." "If you can't get those, we'll discuss alternatives." "The pen is the demodands weakness, but you should not touch it, for he will surely notice. Instead, you should find something else of his." "The other spirits in the mansion can help you, if you find a way to persuade them. The fox, too, will keep his promise, if you can find him again."

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

Getting a little bit of a surprise from the fairly simple request she was asked for, Kagura certainly did not mind being surprised in this way. "Oh... I think that should be doable enough." she would go on to agree after hearing what the two had to say about it all.

 

[Hentaispider]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

The two tengus seem pleased at Kagura's easy acceptance. "Oh yes. The demodand can't be hurt by steel, only magical or silver blades. And lastly, you'll very much want to get your hands on any drawings the demodand has of you before he is banished. Good luck."

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

"I'll keep it in mind, thanks. If this was everything, I'll be going now." Kagura would say after hearing some further advice about her waiting task from the two. If they did not have anything, she would indeed get a move on as there was a good distance to be covered to get back to the mansion again.

 

[Hentaispider]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

"We'll be in touch" one tengu says with a nearly insufferable grin as Kagura turns to leave.

The morning passes swiftly in travel. Kagura spots a kite as she arrives at the forest, though it might be just a coincidence. The forest seems to be eerily still, and darker than it should be so early in the afternoon. Something strange is surely afoot.

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

Going on her way, Kagura got some relatively peaceful time as she did so, humming a little tune while making it through nature. But it was not to be all that nice though, as the forest itself was feeling more oppressive than it had before, and this put the miko on edge, making her stop her pleasant humming as she put on a more careful way of going forward in the somewhat bothersome forest atmosphere.

 

[Hentaispider]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

Soon after entering the forest, Kagura hears eerie wailing in the distance. As the sun slowly moves towards west, it seems to be getting closer. It seems to be coming from East, moving to cut off her way to the village.

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: The mountains and the forests(Kagura/Guan Yu)

As much as she had wanted to get through the day without any real hassle or confrontation, it did appear that she was likely going to have to deal with something before the safety of the village. Hearing the wail, she sought to follow where it came from, trying to keep herself away from it. If it took some circling around the forest, she would go on doing just that as it was not probably in her best interest to meet the source of the noise, whatever it was.