Broaden your horizons

As the woman reached out to gently grasp Ikigai's chin, the girl didn't pull away. The purple lady had shown no aggression nor hint of malice, so the young princess wasn't afraid or uncomfortable. The dogs didn't feel the same. They all moved forward as one, growls low and hackles up. A single shake of Ikigai's skull had them settling moreso than the woman's word of promise. Anko stayed close, however. Iki couldn't blame the akita for that. The dog knew how important Ikigai was to her master. She would protect the girl with her life and the lives of her children. A good number of whom had the purple woman and the young mistress surrounded.

The woman gave her name as Manea and Ikigai accepted it with a nod. Manea complimented her, using the princesses full name. A soft laugh escaped the girl and she gave her head a shake. "Please, Ikigai will suffice."  How many pups her age even used the word suffice? She wasn't sure that her brothers would even know what the word meant, honestly. She tried not to think badly of them, however. They simply didn't possess the same thirsty mind that she did. Every day was a new quest to attain some previously unknown knowledge. Ikigai's inquisitive nature allowed her to meet with and come to understand wolves from all walks of life from the lowliest wanderer to the shogun and empress themselves.

As Manea pulled her paw away, Ikigai noticed its odd shape. Quickly, but gently, Ikigai's own paw rose, catching that of the purple woman. The girl's own paws were oddly dexterous and possessed working thumbs. With her odd appendages, she turned Manea's paw over, a grin soon lifting the crimson corners of the girl's eyes. "I've never met another wolf with odd paws."  Having appreciated the woman's large feline-like paws, Ikigai released her gentle hold, placing her own paw back on the ground. "I used to be a little self conscious about them, but they're very useful, I've learned."  She was capable of doing things that other wolves simply couldn't do. That made her paws quite important, she decided.

Ikigai's breeding was brought up and the girl dipped her crown in a nod. "I am a princess of Ashen. My mother is the empress and my father is the shogun."  She believed that this was explanation enough for her good breeding. As a princess of Ashen and one of five royal children, her upbringing had been given strict and careful attention. While she wouldn't be a fighter or warrior like her siblings, Ikigai showed great promising in the art of diplomacy. That and her aptitude for learning placed her leagues in front of her siblings as far as her education went. Ikigai was constantly on the lookout for new information. Meeting Manea was the perfect opportunity to learn more.

"Where do you come from, Manea?"  The pallid child gave her head a slight tilt as she asked. Not everyone walked the same paths. She doubted that many outsiders would understand the religion that Ashen held, though Ikigai herself didn't strictly follow her aunts sermons. Family was what the young Abraxas worshipped. Family was much more important to her than some silly unseen being. This unseen being was quite important to her aunt, however. Thus, Ikigai never spoke her doubts aloud. She did know that her father felt much the same and that in itself made her feel quite a bit better about having those doubts.


Okiku Ikigai Ōritsu Abraxas