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For Aika , Sorry this took so long! Backdated to Ravorn's celebration!

A warm summer night, and a clear summer sky.

Though the sounds of bustling and celebration were significantly quell compared to later in the day, there were still wolves keen on prancing around until the moon made way for the sun. The cranebird was surprisingly enjoying herself amongst them despite feeling awkward and out of place in such a setting, yet her social battery was dangerously drained for the night. So, as an introvert does, she sought the quieter corners of the pack to soothe herself from all the excitement -- and today, that happened to be the boarders.

Even as the crescent moon commanded attention within a light-freckled sky, the empress could still feel the warm of the summers sun hugging her skin. It felt nice, and so did the buzzing songs of crickets, rustling leaves and flowing water from a nearby stream. Izumi lied against her stomach with one paw folded over the other, surrendering to the calm symphonies of the night.

Yet the sound of something akin to pawsteps began to slowly close in. She assumed it was from withing the pack at first, yet they had come from outside of Ravorn -- and Izumi stood to attention at once. Ears erected and swiveled in the direction of whoever would come forth...

—

She had been traveling alongside Yoshi. Finding someone of their native tongue… it was like a heavy relief that rolled off her shoulders. Aika felt like if she trailed too far, she'd get lost once more. A horror that keeps replaying. It bugged her. She thought maybe she did something to deserve such an outcome.


But what?


She took time to travel away from Yoshi, temporarily, using the time to try and gather her thoughts together. What made her a victim to being lost? Why couldn't she remember routes she came? Would she ever learn how to properly navigate?


Aika swore once she was home again she wasn't even going to swim out for days.


Homesickness struck her hard. Wanting nothing more than Fujiwara back in her grasp. Truthfully, she only hoped… none of her other clanmates suffered the same.


The silvered canid had her head up to the sky, rump on the soft ground. Nitpicking at the stars, a soft exhale as she wondered how far everyone was. Where they in the grasp? Or were they forever out of reach like the stars?

She sat there for a while before she eventually shrugged the emotions off. Leaning to try and figure out where in the stars she left... Yoshi. Getting lost again would be marvelous huh? Unbeknownst to her, she was approaching a different.. silver wolf. Cooing out gently, as her eyes went to seek her traveling companion. Yoshi?

—

LANGUAGES;

“Japanese” (English)

Common

"Yoshi?"

……..Yoshiro? Her baby cousin?

Who goes there? Show yourself. The empress comanded it — standing to her feet at once.  Not out of any trace of rage or irritation — but desperation. Who was it that the frail voice of the woman encompassed? One that called the name of her blood — lest she be mistaken? Izumi wished to see the man they both searched for, as well as the woman who's voice and scent swarmed her senses with the strong candecence of home —

— and she'd found it.

Stark, tall, and glowing within the moonlight like an angel out of a mortality's reach. To meet the woman's amythyest gaze again after so long hit the empress like a train of brick — and her own frosted lilac orbs thawed over and watered from her lids. A soft whine drew from her lips as she came near. Nearer and nearer until the top of her crown practically crashed beneath the furs of the woman's chin. The dynasty's swan bird.

Aika.

愛花、愛しい妹よ。生きていたんだね…… (Aika, dear sister, you are alive…)

—

The voice… it couldnt be


Could it?


The silvered canid trotted faster towards the sound. Surely.. surely it wasn't a ghost coming to haunt her. It had to be her.


In the stark dark of the night, she saw her. The pale empress. Jasmine eyes met her sisters. And for the longest while she stood there processing it. All the time searching.


It was finally over.


She had found her. Or… err.. Izumi had found her. It wasn't formal of her, but tears trickled down her cheek. In the flesh. It was her blood and kin. A swift thump of her tail wagged behind her.


“泉...来てくれたんだな...本当にあなたなんだ。” ( "Izumi... you're here.. it's really you." ) The swans voice crackled.

—

LANGUAGES;

“Japanese” (English)

Common

Izumi hushes the swanbird, using a limb to hold the woman’s head against her chest to comfort her. Just like she would when they were younger – when, despite titles and heir rivalry, she was her little sister. Another paw would find the soft fur of her cheek, gently wiping the flow of tears that ran against it. She breathed in the familiar scent of peaches and vanilla that wafted off the woman’s fur for the first time in a long time; and while her eyes threatened to spill over as well, Izumi held it in at once. Figuring at least one of them needed to hold it in. 私は今、ここにいるわ、妹よ。私のもとへ戻ってきてくれてありがとう。 (I am here now, sister. Thank you for finding your way back to me.) She cooed while gently stroking her head.

Pulling back slightly, her lilac eyes cast over the Fujiwara woman’s face to give her a good once-over. She was really here after all – and Izumi smiles fondly at the realization. ここに着いたばかりですか？どのくらいの時間、旅をしていたのですか？ (Did you just arrive here? How long had you traveled?) Then yet another once-over. This time, a narrowed gaze towards the fur trailing down her legs.

あら、あんよがすっかり汚れてしまっていますね。すぐに洗ってあげないと。 (Ah, your paws are all dirtied. We must get you a bath at once.) She fussed sternly. Even with age, a sister’s job never ended....

—

Aika melted in her sister's embrace. The warmth of her kin she hadn't felt in years. Her hard work finally paid off. And it showed as such, Aika would savor this moment for as long as she could. Taking in her sister's long forgotten scent of petals and salt. Between the soft heaves of a cry, she managed to speak. “泉、私は永遠にあなたのもとへ戻っていく。もし私がどこかにいるとすれば、それは家族を探している。 ” ( "Izumi, I will forever be making my way back to you. If I'm anywhere, it's looking for my family." )


“I..私は出て行っていなかった、姉さん。本土に行った...ひどい嵐が私をとても迷わせました。でも!1か月前...他の人たちも見つけた、彼らの優しさ...北で形成されている。彼は一人で迷子になってから初めて見た人だった。 もし南に来たら、ダイナスティを見てみるように勧めました。” ("I.. I hadn't left, sister. I went to the mainland.. a terrible storm made me oh so lost. But! A month ago.. i found others, their kindness.. They're forming in the North. He was the first one I had seen since being lost alone..  If they ever came south, I offered them to check out the Dynasty.") She went back as she nested her eyes softly. Raelan he said his name was. A kind soul who offered her shelter. Honest, she should've taken him up upon it. The silvered guardian did not. She simply wanted to go home.


It was everything to her that he offered her safety to avoid deadly creatures.


Aika couldn't help but giggle at her sisters comment of her dirty paws. A huge downside to traveling alone. Turns out the land didn't offer bathing much. Or too much. “お願い、それは嬉しいです。” ( "Please, I'd like that.)

—

LANGUAGES;

“Japanese” (English)

Common