cold and bitter

Usagi didn’t really care much for this place. It was too hot, too arid, too damn dry. He felt his toes crunch the gravelly sand beneath with a distasteful curl of his lip, shaking off the feeling as he padded onward into the center of the expanse. He hadn’t left the bamboo maze of his home since he’d arrived there, but now he sought some more sparring practice as the rest of his pack members were busy with hunting and patrolling. The business made it difficult for him to even hone his skills, and as such he worried that he was going to lose his sharpness. His accuracy. It wouldn’t do, especially if he was to be a sufficient Hohei, a warrior, for his pack. To protect his brother from all harm was of utmost importance, along with locating their long-lost father.

With his double-bladed sword slung over one shoulder, he glanced behind him to see if his companions were trotting behind. Sure enough, the antlered cat and Akita Inu who’d never leave him alone were there, eyes watching and tail wagging. He rolled his eyes at their eagerness to wander after him like lost puppies, finding a suitable spot and raising his head to call for an opponent.

Speech