[i][/i][i][/i][i][/i][h2][center][b][color=ed1c24]Novak[/color][/b][/center][/h2]
Novak sat up after being awoken by the fox's prodding, taking a moment to gain his bearings after the strange dream.  The situation he found himself in the waking world was a rather poor one- they were still under siege, still hunkered down in an old Krysa domicile as their food supplies steadily shrunk.  An attempt to break out and get help had left them short five warriors, with no clue as to whether they had made it through.  Novak had no idea why the beastfolk had attacked them, or what they wanted.

It had been an eventful year- in fact, it was the only year Novak could remember.  He had no idea who he originally was, or how he ended up waking up with no memory but a name.  For someone as completely unprepared to face the world, he was very fortunate that Lady Mie's caravan had been passing by, or that the kitsune merchant would allow him to join them.  In that year he had learned so much- he had been taught to fight in the manner of the Oni, he learned much about the world, and he even picked up some things about how not to be taken advantage of in business.  All in all, things were going pretty well, right up until this siege.

Novak looked up at the Oni.  Despite the gross injustices that they suffered at the hands of humans, they had taught him the ways of the warrior.  Perhaps it was because he clearly wasn't a native of their home province.

"As much as I'd like a bit of sparring, I'd better not keep Mie waiting," he answered the horned warrior as he hurriedly put on his swordsman attire, armor, and weapons.  "Perhaps afterwards."  He didn't need to be armed and armored for his meeting with Mie, but with the siege going on, he needed to be prepared to jump into the battle at any moment if the dogs and rats opted to attack.  Once he was fully geared, minus his helmet, faceguard, and straight sword, he would head to Lady Mie's quarters.

He didn't know too much about Mie's background.  From what he did know of, she's a rather influential merchant from Chagawa.  She was a Kitsune, but evidently wasn't on good terms with the rest of her people- she didn't do business with them, and according to some of the Oni, she was exiled from both of the Kitsune clans.  As a caravaner, she was a decent person to work for, and despite her tendency to greatly overstate the quality and worth of some of her merchandise, she was for the most part a pretty fair businesswoman.  He had no idea what would have whipped the Yaga and Krysa into a frenzy over her, because surely this was far too violent a reaction to be over a few overpriced trinkets.

[color=ed1c24]Lady Mie?"[/color] he asked as he stepped into his employer's quarters.  Upon seeing her, he bowed respectfully.  [color=ed1c24]"I was told you wanted to see me."[/color]