Brick by brick

Hattori Seiko didn't tend to be the nervous sort, but this conversation they wanted to have with their father felt like an ominous rain cloud looming overhead. The most important thing in their life, besides loyalty to family in general, was not letting their father down. Disappointing him was an omnipresent worry, something that the young wolf would likely never shake. Nose low to the ground as they walked, sniffing out their father's scent, Seiko slowed as they neared the communal space in the center of the bamboo forest.

Nowhere else in the bamboo forest felt quite so secluded as this one, even with the openness; here flowers and other plants grew plentifully, fed from the sun that beamed in from above. Knowing it was a place no wolves could even dream of accessing outside of Tojo-Kai's ranks made it feel special. Almost sacred, somehow.

His scent was fresh enough that he couldn't be far now, and Seiko let out a bark to catch their father's attention, hoping he could talk with them for a moment.