---

❁

Morning falls upon her, and Izumi is all but ready.

The crane bird lifts her slight frame from her makeshift bed in the woods, her chest against the floor and rear pointed up to stretch her limbs outward. Her joints popped delightfully, and she stood to her paws to shake the debris from her fur. For some strange reason, Izumi's eyes scanned the area around her in search of someone, only for the rude reminder that she'd currently been alone. The northern tribe was not there to keep her company while she yearned for the lands of her dynasty...and neither was the dynasty, upon last night's discovery. Perhaps she was foolish to think there would even be a remnant there after being gone for so long, but that irate, lingering hope of hers deluded her enough into returning in the first place.

Izumi could've spent the night there, too, if it weren't for her attempting to avoid the pain of a barren home. No, she'd rather sleep far, far away...

Long limbs carried her quietly beyond the grasses and onto a makeshift bridge, where the cool, moss covered cobblestone cooled her paw pads as she waltzed. Her front limbs came to rest on the ledge of the bridge to watch the sun rise, filling an orange hue to the early sky. She wondered what could have happened after all this time apart. How many had suffered and forced to disperse because of her absence? Did the siblings she reunited with find hearthside someplace else? Had Osamu's blade sworn to protect someone else?

Or even...his heart?

The pale woman growled at herself and shut her eyes tightly, shaking her head to forbid such torturous thoughts from entering her mind.

---

---

---

Gekirin

Putting the wolves of Ravorn behind him, the black behemoth had been struggling to find a place where he felt like he belonged. The dynasty to the south, within the deep jungles of Verdant's Grace, seemed too much like a prison then a kingdom. At least from the impression that the silver man had given him. Elsewhere Gekirin had just met dead ends with nothing to show for it. Hopefully his daughter was having better luck, wherever she was.

So steadily he made his way to the north, hoping to find something that might bring him some promise. He had awoken in the forest nearby, rising from an abandoned den and heading for the river that flowed beneath the cobblestone bridge. Reaching the water's edge, thirsty lips bent down to drink, letting the water flow down a somewhat parched throat.

What he hadn't expected was the very familiar scent on the wind. The kind that made his memories kick into overdrive and make him freeze in his place. No, it couldn't be. But who else? Golden eyes looked up from his place at the bubbling river, looking around to see if he could find them.

Large paws moved up to higher ground, bringing him to the entrance of the bridge. Only then did Gekirin confirm what he had first disbelieved. Right there just a few feet away from him was Izumi Fujiwara. I thought I would never see that face of yours again. It's been too long.

---

❁

She had noticed the presence of a stranger's footsteps, but did not regarded them fully as she battled with her own thoughts. Perhaps they'd think her crazy and simply carry on -- at least, that's what Izumi though would happen, as she'd been too emotionally exhausted to speak to anyone right now. Instead, however, they'd address her with recognition. A familiar voice -- gruff and masculine. The cranebird's muzzle turned to the left to see who it belonged to, and her ears pricked to attention in an instant. For the first time since she came back, a smile graced her delicate features. Tail swaying by her hips.

"Gekirin!" She regarded the shadowed man with enthusiasm -- or was it relief? An old face in the presence of loneliness was all Izumi could ever ask for in this moment. Her forearms slipped from the sides of the bridge as she approached him in a trot.

"It has been too long. How are you my friend?"

---

---

Gekirin waited for her to notice him, a smile still there on his face as she turned in his direction. Izumi's familiar voice broke the silence, her graceful limbs carrying her over to meet him. It was so good to see her again, to find someone that he felt a true kinship with more so then any other. It's been rather...rough and interesting this last year. You have made it back to these lands at a good time. A great plague and undying winter had taken over this land for quite some time. But it had officially ended this Spring.

Gekirin informed her of what had happened, gauging her reaction to see how she would take the news. Where did you go? What on earth happened to you? The Dynasty just vanished or left out of the blue, the island now void of anyone from back then. He could still remember waking from his den to nothing but eerie silence. That day still haunts him, though he does his best to forget.

---

❁

It had been quite a while, yes, because anything that Gekirin had informed her of was beyond her previous knowledge. Her stomach grew into a knot as she took in the information – A plague…an undying winter. The dynasty had truly been left to ruin in her absence. If Izumi would’ve never gone on that failed scouting mission, if she had healed to return sooner, then she’d probably be there to lead the dynasty to safety during that year of misfortune. Internally, the crane would curse herself as lilac eyes and furrowed brows lowered to her paws, lips pressed together tightly. She…was aware my home might’ve dispersed in her absence, but her people…she’d truly failed to protect them.

Her gaze then fell back to Gekirin, who she knew she owed an explanation to. Honestly, she owed an explanation to everyone who’d been left for dead during those days. “I scouted on my lonesome several seasons ago as I usually had, and was attacked by a mountain lion on my journey home.” She explained

”I couldn’t risk leading them towards the group, not while i’d been bleeding, so I ran the opposite direction to lose sight of the feline – but I was not careful, and ended up falling from the heights of a ledge…” The cranebird could still feel the sickening snap of her bones as they broke upon impact. The fact that she was still alive after that was either some miracle, or a mockery from the gods above. ”The next thing I knew, I’d woken up in a foreign pack being tended by a medic. They wouldn’t let me leave until I was fully healed, and I suppose you could say I am better now.” Which she would end in silence, supposing Gekirin knew what that meant.

Izumi stepped closer, looking up towards him now. There was a vulnerable desperation in her eyes. Wordlessly seeking an answer of any sort for what happened, no matter how vague it was. She must find them again.

She must-!

---

---

It was a terrible thing, to see the pain resting within her eyes. Despite knowing that it wasn't his place to do so, despite knowing that she most likely wouldn't want it, he still wanted to help her. Still wanted to hold her close, comfort her, tell her that everything was going to be alright. But Gekirin held himself back, even as Izumi brought herself closer to him, a pleading look in her purple hues. The Crane was a lost soul, one without her family and those that she held dear. But maybe he could do something about it.

At least you are here, safe and sound. You made it back alive despite all that you have been through. It is a huge relief. As for the Dynasty, your family. I will do all that I can to help you find them. The onyx colored man gave her all that he could, his word. For that was all that he had to give.

Truthfully though, I don't know where they all went, what exactly happened. I woke up from my den one day while still residing within your pack's territory, only to find that there was not a soul in site. The only one that I managed to find, I never got her name. She was mute and the color of chocolate. Last I saw of her, she had resided in the southern mountains to the west. But I have not seen her around there since.

That was unfortunately all the information that he had to give. What Izumi did with it was hers to choose.

---

❁

Gekirin consoled her, attempting to ease her worries with his words. For the most part it worked, but not fully – afterall, he was another one that she’d failed as well. He sought a new beggining within the dynasty, and she had failed to maintain that for him. Despite that, despite what he might’ve went through during that time, he still found it within herself to provide his reassurance. Even wishing to aid Izumi in her search. Her head hung low, and her ears pinned against her skull.

"I….am a terrible friend." Izumi said, exhaling a soft breath. A gentle, solemn smile appeared on her delicate features as she looked at him. "How do you think I deserve such words after I’ve failed to provide you with the peace you deserve?" Yet the crane would not turn away his help. Grateful was the woman to the man cloaked in black. "Thank you, Gekirin." Forever in his debt.

He proceeded to provide her with an answer to her silent plea, recalling what he could remember from back then. The description of a woman crossed his mind, one of chocolate hues and little words. Chōumi. The crane let out a soft chuckle, a fond warmth filling her chest at the memory of her brunette companion. "You must speak of Chōumi." she spoke, her nose going into the direction of the southern territories. Of course – after the clan had been no more, her people might’ve drifted off someplace not too far away.

"Then perhaps we should begin within westmoor."

---

---

It was to be expected, the way that Izumi was feeling about the whole situation. But Gekirin would not let her stay in a permanent state of despair. All would not be lost. You need not apologize to me. Some things in life really cannot be helped. What matters now is what we do to improve the future, to look forward to what is coming next for us. A smile was now on his face again, tail waving in friendship. No thanks is needed. Just doing what is right. The mood then switched to something more hopeful, brighter. Then she gave him information on the muted one. Finally he had a name: Chōumi.

Last I saw her was in a mountain range to the southwest. I don't know if they are still there or not. I haven't seen her in quite some time, and her scent has vanished before me. Perhaps you might be able to help me pick up the trail. I have yet to go further north of this world, so there is not telling what might be waiting for us there. Was there even anyone back on the island? Perhaps not all was lost after all. Guess we had better get started when ever you are ready, my friend.