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❁

The sun beamed gracefully against the shores of queen's rest that morning, though perhaps it was to make room for more sweltering weather come noon. Summer was a wrathful entity this year, many would come to find out, and many unprepared souls became victims to finding that much out. Morning birds chirped within hiding and sang gentle melodies throughout the island. They zoomed and fluttered out of hiding from the violet wisteria trees that overtook the territory and perfumed the air in a pleasantly sweet aroma.

A smell that Izumi had ached to remember, once upon a time — and now it had returned to her. 

She’d initially returned to the island to find it rid of what once was, yet she’d returned with a group who’d been willing to help her build things from the ground up. Izumi owed Gekirin her gratitude for aiding her and becoming her right hand, for if it wasn’t for him keeping her head up, she probably wouldn’t have had it in her to continue. Nor would fate had probably led her to run into Osamu that night, the man that brought color to her world when things looked less than. With him, the woman saw an actual future — with family and all. Something that made her lower her muzzle to her chest and smile shyly at the thought. Seriously, what was she? A fickle teenager?

The crane bird arose from her slumber rather swiftly that morning, ready to start making routine rounds for the day. Stopping by the dens first and the caches second. They were not the only inhabitants here, the Empress had come to realize, and if she were to secure this place, she would have to do it obsessively so.

By the shore line was her next stop, sand skidding from her paws in their brisk steps. She would not realize it yet, but an unexpected visitor would pay her a visit as she trailed and marked the boarders…

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For Masae !!

When she stirs, it is upon quiet sands which soothe the dull ache throbbing at the very back of her mind. Wisteria entwining on the air lures her upright, soft grunt in her chest and sore shift of shoulder blades amount to a stiff standing.

Masae's vision is slow to follow with its swimming blur but a shake of her head soon brings clarity to dazed eyes. This is not her land but there are echoes of familiarity upon it which her senses find before her brain can kick to life in full.

She wanders shoreline like guidance. Equilibrium drip fed.

If not only so she knows when she's been thrown off-kilter.

Steadying step slows and Masae's jaw gapes, monochromatic ghost looms in the distance. It is an absurd thought that graces her and she seeks to rid herself of it, but no jostling of skull fades out the wolf she takes tentative motions in the direction of.

"Izumi?" She ventures, hushed.

For what if she is wrong?

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❁

Within the same sanded path that the Empress trailed, there was a figure off in the distance. Far away enough to only appear as a spec of moving color from her point of view.

Izumi was not really shocked to see them. After all, theses lands were still  technically unclaimed until their boarders strengthened further. She would just have to give them a little heads up telling them of their presence, or be prepared if the interaction soured. Not that the crane worried much about the latter — they outnumbered them.

What Izumi was shocked about, however, was the scent that flowed through her nostrils as she trailed closer. It was medicinal — familiar — aggressively so. Enough to make the crane bird stop in her tracks, brows furrowing and tail twitching. In skepticism and….anticipation. The beat of her heart raced slightly. There was no way that was her.

Aand yet it was — the reddish tint of her fur and the dull viridecence of her eyes did not lie to her as the woman finally materialized. The silk tassel that sat at her rump wagged feverishly.

"マサエ……本当に君なのか、旧友よ?" (Masae…is that really you, old freind?)

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