Skill: Guardian
Something in him had changed since Izumi's return. Actually, it had changed the very day she was discovered missing - while he was admittedly less familiar with failure, given his many years of service, he had once been able to turn its bite toward the edge of his own blade as a tool of vengeance.
Yet that day, the once-familiar feeling of molten retribution had been replaced by cold desperation - fear.
Weeks, months passed, and his search for her had only resulted in overwhelming fatigue and a once-groomed coat ruined by the thorns and detritus of his travels. He hardly remembered to eat, and only by sheer force of will did he manage to swallow down what morsels of prey he came upon. How could he eat, when she might be in pain? When she herself might be starving on an empty stomach, wasting away in some forsaken hole gods-knew-where?
Or even worse - but that was unthinkable.
Since her rescue, Osamu had remained largely silent, his face drawn and pensive. He followed Izumi like a silent shadow, lingering close by and rarely letting her out of his sight - he had spoken barely three words since the Empress had been returned to them.
She jolted awake, and from a dark corner of the den Osamu leapt to attention, ears swiveling and eyes narrowed as he took quick stock of their surroundings to ensure their safety.
Only silence greeted his assessment, and his hackles gradually lowered.
Osamu padded toward the Empress on quiet paws, settling near her in a bid to comfort her with his presence.
She would never be taken from them again.
Yet that day, the once-familiar feeling of molten retribution had been replaced by cold desperation - fear.
Weeks, months passed, and his search for her had only resulted in overwhelming fatigue and a once-groomed coat ruined by the thorns and detritus of his travels. He hardly remembered to eat, and only by sheer force of will did he manage to swallow down what morsels of prey he came upon. How could he eat, when she might be in pain? When she herself might be starving on an empty stomach, wasting away in some forsaken hole gods-knew-where?
Or even worse - but that was unthinkable.
Since her rescue, Osamu had remained largely silent, his face drawn and pensive. He followed Izumi like a silent shadow, lingering close by and rarely letting her out of his sight - he had spoken barely three words since the Empress had been returned to them.
She jolted awake, and from a dark corner of the den Osamu leapt to attention, ears swiveling and eyes narrowed as he took quick stock of their surroundings to ensure their safety.
Only silence greeted his assessment, and his hackles gradually lowered.
Osamu padded toward the Empress on quiet paws, settling near her in a bid to comfort her with his presence.
She would never be taken from them again.
![[Image: ZvwmV36.png]](https://i.imgur.com/ZvwmV36.png)
