The river has no beginning (D7 LA, Expecting)

[Chai Kotsume]

Kotsume had heard that some among the Dragon visiting Imperial lands had a connection to nature similar to her own. One of them she had seen the previous morning - the tie Yatsufusa had established with Yukiashi was truly remarkable, and it was clear his link to wild spirits was a strong one.

But there was another one she'd heard about... And especially after Nozomi's remarks about the bear possibly being a spirit of Chikushudo, the Ki-rin knew she had to meet with the Wu girl at some point.

Having sent a letter to Wu Ko's door I'm the morning, she now walked leisurely along the left margin of the river, very slowly making her way from the town to the waterfall, kicking pebbles now and then. She wondered what could have brought the spirit here, and apparently enraged it - or frightened it. She wondered if the crows had anything to do with it.

And she wondered who this girl was, that had discovered this spiritual connection. She was... happy for the opportunity to meet a kindred soul, in a way? Her meeting with the other Dragon dignitaries had been quite pleasant, so there was no reason to expect otherwise from this one.

But in a way, she also felt... jealous? It was hard to describe. Over the last few days she felt her own connection with the spirits was in many ways weaker than she would expect. She knew she had much to learn. She was used to being in that position, too - much with her mother. Now this...

She shook her head and smiled. She should take every opportunity to learn. Even if it was humbling. Perhaps especially so...

She kicked another pebble, hoping to make it skip three times in the water. It bounced only once, then dropped to the bottom of the river.

[Wu Ko]

Maybe it was a strange place for a meeting in the dead of winter, but Ko was not a woman who had much experience with arranged meetings. When a notice arrived for her to meet here it was surprising it wasn't actually addressed to Satsuki, or Yatsufusa who was every more sociable than her. Still, likely urged on by Satsuki, Ko made her way out this afternoon toward the meeting with the intent of managing again through one of these social encounters. They were easier one on one, and this one even had some promise to be easier on her.

Clambering out of her robes, climbing them to come up on her shoulder, the little squirrel that was often her companion rests on her shoulder looking all around. Strange behavior for a squirrel, but not for him. Spotting Kotsume from down the river some ways she half-raises her hand before realizing the woman wasn't faced her direction. Simply pressing on until she came nearer, as nearer as she would manage before Kotsume would notice her. Going so far, potentially, as to never announce herself until she was mere feet away.

[Chai Kotsume]

Maybe it was a strange place for a meeting in the dead of winter, but Ko was not a woman who had much experience with arranged meetings. When a notice arrived for her to meet here it was surprising it wasn't actually addressed to Satsuki, or Yatsufusa who was every more sociable than her. Still, likely urged on by Satsuki, Ko made her way out this afternoon toward the meeting with the intent of managing again through one of these social encounters. They were easier one on one, and this one even had some promise to be easier on her.

Clambering out of her robes, climbing them to come up on her shoulder, the little squirrel that was often her companion rests on her shoulder looking all around. Strange behavior for a squirrel, but not for him. Spotting Kotsume from down the river some ways she half-raises her hand before realizing the woman wasn't faced her direction. Simply pressing on until she came nearer, as nearer as she would manage before Kotsume would notice her. Going so far, potentially, as to never announce herself until she was mere feet away.

If the girl noticed Ko approaching before, she gave no signs of it. It was only when the Dragon was a few steps behind that she turned her head - mirrored by three smaller heads that were some feet ahead - and gave the woman a smile. "Afternoon, Dragon-sama! You... must be Wu Ko-sama? Thank you for coming!"

Waiting for her to come closer, she nods at the area around. "It's a beautiful area, isn't it?"

[Wu Ko]

As she approaches, she nods to the question. Once working her way through the elements and terrain to where Chai is she looks to her, and the three smaller heads, with the slow rise, slow fall, but ultimately brief smile. Lingering her gaze on the others for a moment she returns her gaze to Chai. A nod, "Hello," she says, her voice possessing a semi-distance quality to it.

"It is. Spring must be wonderful here," she comments, that same brief smile. Hands down in front of herself they link, fingers intertwining. Small cloth wraps creating gloves of a sort for her hands, the heavy winter robes of a reddish-brown color. A small dagger, attached just to her side and dangling against it and the wind in the robe. So near to Chai now, the squirrel found himself less adventurous and quickly scurried back down Ko's shoulder all the way back around to the pouch in which he slept.

[Chai Kotsume]

As she approaches, she nods to the question. Once working her way through the elements and terrain to where Chai is she looks to her, and the three smaller heads, with the slow rise, slow fall, but ultimately brief smile. Lingering her gaze on the others for a moment she returns her gaze to Chai. A nod, "Hello," she says, her voice possessing a semi-distance quality to it.

"It is. Spring must be wonderful here," she comments, that same brief smile. Hands down in front of herself they link, fingers intertwining. Small cloth wraps creating gloves of a sort for her hands, the heavy winter robes of a reddish-brown color. A small dagger, attached just to her side and dangling against it and the wind in the robe. So near to Chai now, the squirrel found himself less adventurous and quickly scurried back down Ko's shoulder all the way back around to the pouch in which he slept.

The Ki-rin follows the squirrel's movement with an expresion of wonder - and the three little heads follow it with similar interest, although whether that's due to curiosity or considering it as a possible meal is up for discussion.

"It must! But really... it looks just as nice now in the winter, doesn't it?" She looks around. "There's so much more life than one would expect!"

She bows to the girl. "Speaking of which, Wu-sama... that is the reason I wanted to speak to you. I've heard... you had found out some things about the unexpected wild visitor to these lands? The snow-white bear that's apparently attacked some people?"