Come down, come down sweet reverence

Jynn had a bounce in her step most of the journey back to Tojo. Her meeting with the young Hemlock alphess had gone well and they'd arranged a practice raid for a bounty of herbs and ale added to the winner's purse by Hemlock and sake and tea on Tojo's side. This would be an excellent experience for the youth. Not only the march all the way north but the actual fighting as well. She couldn't wait!

When she arrived back she took a moment to report her news to Hattori and then rest for a few days before calling the meeting.

The morning of the meeting dawned crisp and cool. Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, offering a few fleeting patches of warmth. Jynn moved to the main gathering area in the bamboo and barked out her call to the youth of Tojo and any other that wished to participate in a raid to answer and gather.

ooc: Deadline September 14th, noon CST.

Keito awoke to the crisp embrace of the morning air, sunlight weaving through the bamboo and casting dappled patterns on the ground. The clear call of Jynn reached his ears, summoning the youth of Tojo. A raid? This was the moment he'd been waiting for, an opportunity to prove his worth and bring honor to his family.

He swiftly donned his gear, securing his blade and adjusting his armor with practiced precision. As he stepped outside, the scent of fresh bamboo mingled with the subtle hint of excitement in the air. Keito made his way toward the main gathering area, his footsteps light yet purposeful.

Arriving, he joined the assembling group, offering a respectful bow to Jynn. "Jynn-san," he greeted, his voice steady, "I stand ready to contribute to our cause and represent Tojo-Kai with honor."

His eyes reflected a seriousness and a hint of anticipation. He wondered who he would be against in the raid, and if it would be as embarrassing as fighting some of his family members could be. Couldn't be worse than that, right?

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN

Majima usually rose early, but the chill of the autumn was intense and he'd found himself more easily excusing choosing to remain warm for a while longer than her otherwise might. But it wasn't a good enough excuse to miss the call echoing off the bamboo. With a grumble the young Hattori got himself up and after stretching and shaking himself out headed to answer the call for a raid. Admittedly he was eager for a chance to actually get a little violent, even if he couldn't go all out what he wanted was someone he could really sink his fangs into. A real fight. Majima arrived only shortly after Keito, and offered Jynn his own dip of his head though did not give up his own vocal greeting before settling himself beside his brother and giving him a small nudge, raised brows the closest thing to a smile he would get right now. He too was curious who they were raiding, and who he might get a chance to actually go up against. Maybe he'd get an opponent his own size for once, already outgrown by the majority of his siblings. He wondered idly if he'd see the small wolf-dog he'd met what felt like a lifetime ago, before he tried to shake the memory of him from his mind. "Speech"

Art by Talia!

Kaizen still had so much to learn, but he knew just wanting something did not mean it would simply land in his paws- as frustrating as that may be. Even Hattori himself had to make sacrifices to get where he was today, the yearling did not expect or even want a free ride, but the anticipation that something, somewhere down the line may go wrong? He did not like change, not one bit. Still, he heeded Jynn's call, he could finish descaling this fish later, he knew he had to present, make it clear he was willing to make the effort. Do what needed to be done.

By the time he arrived at the communal area, two of his brothers were already present. Majima was a given but Kaizen was still...quietly pleased Keito had returned, that Hattori had welcomed him back into the fold without much of a fuss. Remaining standing, Kaizen offered his brothers, then Jynn a polite nod.

"Good morning." He greeted in their native tongue, voice not as deep as he'd like thanks to pesky puberty.

Seiko wouldn't miss out on an opportunity like this for anything. This was exactly what they'd been training for, after all. To defend their family's honor. Not that anything about Jynn's call indicated a situation anything like that. Still - wanting to prove to themselves that they could when necessary was important. And exciting. Their heart beat a little bit harder in their chest with anticipation as they headed toward the meeting. Many of their siblings had already arrived, which earned a slow nod of approval from Seiko. They took a deep breath of the crisp morning air, moving to settle in and wait for what Jynn had to say.

Takeji had spent the dawn hours traversing the outer edge of the bamboo, something between scouting and exercising. He knew his young body had a ways to go before maturing into fighting-fit adulthood, but he would do what he could to speed the process along. So it was that when Jynn's call rang out from farther within, he was eager to turn and divert his attention wholly to her summons. By the time he arrived he saw that several of his siblings had preceded him. Keji first gave a deep and respectful nod to Jynn before catching eye contact with his brothers and sibling, a more informal greeting with a hint of a smile. He wasn't certain what would come of this, but it also wasn't his primary concern either. While the results did matter, and of course he wanted to prove himself capable, it would be more accurate to say the young male wanted to push himself. Real combat with wolves outside the Clan would be an invaluable lesson and win or lose he planned to reap as much as he could from the experience. He settled himself, posture upright and intent, and waited for their meeting to begin. "Talk" "Listen" Think

One of the tasks that Hattori had given Ochitsuki was assisting his children in honing their crafts. Joining in on a raid with them would show her just what they knew and what they needed to work on. When Jynn called for the yearlings, Ochi entered the group at the back, seating herself in the shade of some overhanging bamboo. The black and white lady watched with mismatched eyes as the rest settled down. She then gave her attention to the long legged fae at the front of the congregation, curious as to what she had to say.

"Speech"

Ears perked when she heard the call. Though it wasn't from her father, but it sounded important nonetheless. This sort of call was new to her. A raid? She had never been on a raid before! Excitement coursed through her, and the reclusive girl emerged from her den with determination in her step as her cat companion leaped up onto her back before they headed off to join the group. When she arrived, quite a number of others were there already. She looked expectantly to the leader of the group as she settled in to hear where they were going and what they were going to do. She didn't want to disappoint of course, and while she had done plenty of solo training, there was still a lot she needed to learn. This would be a good opportunity for her to do just that, and hopefully do a decent job of this. Hinata

Now fully recovered, Kina set her mind to sharpening her craft skills. It seemed the most reasonable introduction back into normal life in Tojo. However, her fighting ability lingered in the back of her mind. She needed to get back into fighting shape and continue to strengthen her skills.

As luck would have it a call rang out from the strange wolf that had joined recently. Jynn, if memory served. She seemed to be calling volunteers for a friendly raid. Well, that was too good to pass up. Kina called for her companions and grabbed her armor and weaponry. When she finally arrived a number of her siblings were already present. She gave Jynn a respectful nod of the head before moving to sit near Takeji.

Come down, come down sweet reverence

With every passing moment Jynn felt the excitement grow in her gut. She'd never done something like this before. She'd never been in a raid, let alone lead one. She was eager to not only prove herself but initiate a valuable learning experience for the young of the pack as well as any others looking to sharpen their skills.

Keito was the first to arrive, polite and well spoken as many of Hattori's children were. That had been one difficult adjustment, learning to carry herself with more decorum as well as begin learning the language. The honorifics were particularly tricky for her but in time she would learn. She owed the wolves of Tojo that much. Jynn bowed her head in respectful greeting to the young prince. "I have no doubt that you will."

One by one they filed in and to each one Jynn dipped her head in a little bow of formal greeting. Once everyone was settled she began the meeting. "Thank you all for coming. I have arranged a practice raid with Hemlock in Eastern Boreas. We are to act in the role of raiders seeking herbs and drink." Jynn sat down gently, her tail wrapping around in front of her bladed leg bracers. "This journey will build your stamina, introduce you to fighting on new terrain, and give you a chance to get into the minds of Tojo's potential enemies. We are not the kind to initiate raids, but they will inevitably happen against us. In the years to come I hope to arrange multiple practices, both offensive and defensive. Learn what you can from this endeavor for it won't be our last. "

Jynn stood once more, eager to start. "Now then, ready your selves. Tojo has donated a number of fine teas and sake to the winner's purse. Let us ensure its return!"