The village was bustling with life when Masako and Akane arrived, but not because of the usual trade or celebrations common to Masako’s home city. Rather, mothers and children were cheering by the roadside as men handed out spears and swords and any sort of sharp metal they could find, parading their weapons around the village and shouting “hunt! Hunt! Hunt!”

[color=indianred]”Excuse me,”[/color] Masako said, flagging down a passing woman who was holding a dirt-caked shovel in one hand and a metal rake in the other, [color=indianred]”would you mind telling me what is happening right now? My—”[/color] Masako glanced at Akane, [color=indianred]“—friend and I happened to be passing through when we heard the ruckus, and we were wondering what was going on.”[/color]

“Well there ain’t much to say,” the woman said, setting the farm tools down and letting the metal ends sink into the clumpy dirt below. “The men are organizing a hunt for the silver wolf that’s been roaming the mountains recently. Yesterday it killed another kid—its second—and that’s the end of the line. The village held an impromptu vote and unanimously decided to get rid of it.”

Masako’s eyes grew wide at the news. Yes she’d heard of wild animals killing villagers, but she’d never bought into it much. It’d always seemed unlikely to her that the animal that once wore the graceful pelts that adorned her father’s study could be capable of such violence, but then again she’d never seen a real wolf in action.

“Who’re you?” a man demanded, spotting the odd pair lingering on the outskirts of the parade. “Anka, who are these two?”

“They’re travelers, Obutsu,” the woman—Anka—said, looking at Masako again. “Bad timing to come for a visit, but perhaps your friend could help with the hunt?” Anka asked, looking to the sheathed katana at Akane’s side before sliding her hands up to meet the ronin’s sharp gaze. “Nice eyes, this one. Should be good with the sword.”

[color=indianred]”Akane?”[/color] Masako asked, looking to the ronin at her side. There had been no talk of what the woman would and wouldn’t do when escorting Masako to the border, and Masako wasn’t sure herself what she wanted to do. 

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[@Damiann47]