Masako shook her head. [color=indianred]”No, it’s okay. Let’s keep moving. It’s a single wolf against a whole village—there’s no need for us to help out as well,”[/color] she said, picking up the pace again. 

Leading the way, Masako forged her way through the village as crowds parted for her, eyes wide with curiosity or narrowed in suspicion at the presence of the two travelers. Masako tried not to stare at the children and elders in tattered clothes, barely hanging onto their bodies as she approached the less wealthy part of the village where houses looked more like shacks crafted of trash than wood. 

[i]Does the Shogun know that this is how the villagers are living?[/i] Masako wondered, averting her eyes from a mother holding a naked child, weary eyes with dark bags under them that spoke of sleepless nights from hunger. [i]Is this how the Shogun’s people should live?[/i]

Masako sighed as she reached the edges of the village, turning to look at Akane. [color=indianred]”So, where to now?”[/color]

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[@Damiann47]