Rheum stood at the edge of the Ancient Oaks. Her chin tilts to look up at the canopy. Across her back is a satchel with basic supplies. She has already said her goodbyes to her parents and siblings. There were no tears shed as they knew they would see each other again. Her tears would be saved for someone else. She had already called for him to meet her here. One may question why not in the bamboo. While everyone knew Hattori was not the sentimental type, Rheum was. Plus all the times they had gone navigating together, she felt it was appropriate to be seen off where they had newly expanded to. Humming a Japanese lullaby to herself as she awaited, Rheum held back what emotions she could for now. Rheum Genji-Archer

Hattori knew this day was coming, but that didn't mean he had to like it. They had spoken about this before and in some way it was tempting to deny her request, to make her stay. But what would he gain from that? He had no use in wolves who did not wish to be here and if she felt like there was more for her outside of the Bamboo, be it room to grow of opportunities then so be it. Upon hearing her call, he frowned a little, clutching his cards so close to his chest they were embedded in his fur, and made his way to the edge of the Oaks, where he suspected she lingered.

She was as ready as she would ever be and it wasn't as if she was the first of Sedna's litter that had wandered off to do their own thing. But perhaps Hattori had taken a liking to Rhuem, that their ventures outside of the Maze had been enjoying to a man who found most things less than agreeable.

"Do you have everything you need?" Hattori asked her.

When the Kaicho arrived, Rheum turned to look at him. She watched him approach and ask if she had everything she needed. A half-smile trembled on her lips as she shook her head lightly. “I won’t have you to keep me company,” her voice trembles too as she shrugs. “I suppose that’s okay though. You’re a busy man,” she teases him in an attempt to keep the sad feelings away. Out of everyone in the bamboo, she will miss Hattori the most. Closing her eyes for a moment, she couldn’t resist anymore. Rushing forward, Rheum embraces Hattori with her shoulder pressed against his leg and her head reached up to lean against his shoulder. “I’ll miss you,” she whispers. Rheum Genji-Archer

Hattori was quiet, sombre in his silence. Moody with rain clouds gathering overhead, brows furrowed so deeply it looked like they wished to devour his eyes. He did not like this and had not anticipated how...unpleasant this would be, in the moment. And yet it had to be done, Hattori would not deny the girl her desire to see the world, to know what it had to offer. He allowed the girl to embrace him, much smaller frame pressing against his own as he looked down at her, silent for a moment before speaking once more.

"You will always have a place here, we are not going anywhere." In the Bamboo he would remain, and his people too for generations to come.

It pleased the girl to hear Hattori speak those words. While some may think he isn’t a very caring wolf, Rheum knows otherwise. His silence is merely a part of his personality. The countless times he has gone adventuring with her and taken her to see different things. The time he took to teach her Nihongo, to teach her how to navigate, to teach her the basics of survival, it showed that he cared. To Rheum, that would be so much more than words ever would say. Leaning away from Hattori, Rheum looked up at him. ”Would you be okay if I took one of the Akita pups with me?” She questioned with a couple wags of her tail. His companions had recently had a litter and with her own mother expecting more pups, she knew he would have his paws full of responsibility. Rheum saw no reason he would ever tell her no anyway. Wink, wink. Rheum Genji-Archer

Hattori saw no reason to deny her, an akita would make a good travel companion. Have her back when she needed it the most and she would serve as a good mistress in turn. They were loyal hounds and had served his kin for many generations, she couldn't find a better travel companion in the land, as far as Hattori was concerned at least.

"Of course. Choose as you see fit." It was all her choice, Hattori would have it all laid at her paws, from the pup she chose to the paths she took from here on out.  At least now she would have someone to speak her native tongue with, so she didn't forget it from misuse.