Withering Hearts

She had been traveling more than she'd been home. Seeking answers to a life she had long left behind. She had found her way back to what she had used to call home, only to find it decimated. Burned to ashes. There was nothing left. The once empire she had one day wished to claim had been destroyed. Her brothers scattered to the four winds...or so she hoped. Although she hadn't spoken to her family since she left, she still loved them. But the way things looked? She could only hope and pray that her brothers had made it out alive.

She returned to Tojo at last, a heavy heart to match the heavy rains that pelted the ground so early in the morning. The winds howled around her as she approached the bay, the sand beneath her paws soaked as the rain heavily sounded upon the kelp choked water. She paused, looking toward the trees. Would Hanzo be angry for having left without much word? Would he understand? Her thoughts flickered with the fireflies that floated through the trees. Their light flickering dimly as they settled on the bark. Her ear flicked with the movement of the little orchid mantis that had hitchhiked with her, taking shelter within her dense fur as the koi woman walked into the treeline to find a little relief from the storm. If Hanzo ended up angry, she would explain and take whatever consequence he deemed necessary. She hadn't meant to be gone for so long, but the moment she had heard word that trouble was afoot back home, she had left on the long journey there. But even then, she hadn't made it in time. Her efforts had been fruitless. Her heart broken. There was no home to go back to anymore.

This was it.

"Sakura Haruno"