let's stick together just a little bit longer She's looking for elderberries again. It seems that, as far as Auster goes, they elude her. The pack that's tucked itself away in the castle seems to have the only source on the southern continent, if Kiriko has to guess. Not wanting to expose herself to another full pack of wolves (not knowing what she'll find there), she chooses not to entertain the idea of trading for them. Still, they were helpful for little Erik and his throat, and she genuinely wants him to feel better. That litter of pups... they troubled Kiriko. Three of them had been born less than well, and she would do all she could to help Sedna take care of them. Caretaking had always been her position, her niche... why would it be any different here? Moving north from Tojo-kai's homeland, Kiriko was still on high alert. She's not comfortable here. Not yet. There was still a chance she'd been followed, there was still a chance that she was still being hunted. Hunted. What a wildly uncomfortable thought. This place wasn't safe, but it was far safer than Nihon had been. Maybe someday she'd rest easily again... but until then, her head would be on a swivel. The Briar was dense, and within that density, she feels safer. Hidden away among the thicket, within the brambles. That was nice, actually. Kiriko begins her search for the little purple berries. The sun shone softly over her back and shoulders, and she can enjoy the afternoon... as much as she ever does.

Kitsune hunted through the Brar in search of herbs. While healing wasn’t one of her primary jobs within Ashen, she knew better than to let her knowledge go to waste. She had trained as a healer, and when she noticed stock on herbs were low, she made the time to replenish them.

Navigating through the briar was a bit tricky, but her little fox companion scouted ahead of her, and found the easiest paths through. She had gathered a few bits and bobs when the scent of another wolf caught her attention. She lifted her head, sampling the air and found herself surprised. She didn’t know the wolf, but she knew some of the scents that lingered with hers. She knew her father had made a pack, and while she didn’t know that pack, she knew her father. This wolf must be one of his.

She… wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She backed up a little, the idea of turning around and heading away before she could be spotted entered her mind. But she hadn’t minded her surroundings, and she stepped into a thorny path of briar. Her tail fur tangling in the thorns.


"Speech"

let's stick together just a little bit longer In all of her anxiety, in all of her worry, Kiriko finds herself being extremely careful within the Briar. There was so much that could catch her, could tangle her, and leave her in a much worse situation that before. No, she couldn't be turned into a sitting duck. Not now. Especially not now, away from the safety of Tojo-kai. Though she could defend herself, though she could run, though she could hide... it's still enough for her to be nervous about. Worry. As the breeze shifts and changes, Kiriko knows that she's not the only one out here. She knows there's someone else. Were they just out here for herbs too? She could hope. Goodness, she could hope. Carefully tucking some of the elderberries away in the borrowed basket, the scent only becomes more clear. Not just that, but the figure of the woman somewhere not so far off in the Briar, Kiriko can see her. Though the stranger had moved to turn away, it seemed that she... stopped moving? Hm. Was there danger here? Maybe. But from where Kiriko currently stood, she could see the bigger problem at hand. The stranger was tangled within the briar patch. She can't help it. "Excuse me," she gently calls out. "Do you need help?" Ever so soft, ever so gentle, she has to ask. Being stuck out here could be dangerous, especially within the thick brambles.