Sedna let loose a self-depreciating chuckle as she stood on the now well marked border of the new pack. Here she had been so sure she would set herself up comfortably before her children came, that she would have plenty of time to get ready for the changes about to come, and that she could do it, either on her own or with Raijin by her side. But travel had been far longer than expected with so many paws now pressing into her lungs, and kidneys and bladder. It felt like weeks since she had last kept down a decent meal, or had a decent night sleep and she was just. So. Tired. So when Raijin had suggested they call on Hattori, well any protests that may have been present in the weeks leading up to this point were long since abandoned. She tipped her head up to call for the leader, a smirk already on her face when the leader approached.  “Don’t suppose yer lookin’ fer a healer or a teacher?” No point in beating around the bush, she was short of breath and her feet hurt. Sedna Archer-Lyall #1 possum mom (and regular mom too)

Hattori's ears tipped forward as Sedna's call pierced the air, slipping through the gaps of the bamboo in a calm but casual tone. They had spoken the other day and were on fair enough terms, but he didn't think she could seek out sanctuary within Tojo since she was an Armada wolf. Had been for as long as he'd known her. And yet obviously things had changed, she was pregnant with Raijin's children and he'd always been a family man, would want his children raised within a family culture. It made sense, as much as any of his cousins lines of thought made sense.

Emerging from the Bamboo, Hattori passed over into the Bay and met Sedna at the border. She looked as though she was about to pop any day now.

She wasn't just outright asking for a place to stay and the Kaicho appreciated her tact. No one got a free ride here and they never would.

"I could make use of your talents, yes." He told her, the pale of his brows furrowing in thought. "What of the Armada?"It was a reasonable question to ask, would taking her in bring trouble to his doorstep?

It was lucky Sedna wasn’t a nervous wolf by nature, or Hattori would probably be far too intimidating to approach. As it was, she was used to directness and if anything had felt like home, it was the no bullshit attitude of the man before her. “I reckon I outgrew it, but I left on good terms.” She responded quickly enough, lowering her rump to the ground and shifting her front paws to better support the roiling of probably already bickering puppies. They couldn’t even wait to get out to start with the attitudes apparently. Sedna Archer-Lyall #1 possum mom (and regular mom too)

Hattori could see that. No doubt the Armada wasn't for everyone, but if Sedna claimed to have parted on good terms then he saw no reason not to believe her. Lying wouldn't get her very far around these parts and he assumed she could sense as much. If she was effectively a loner right now then he saw no reason to bring her into the fold, she would need a safe place to have her children and though Hattori loathed his cousin's womanising ways he wouldn't deny her this.

"Come then, if you are able the first thing you need to do is arrange your quarters. If you need assistance I will find someone for you." But he doubted he'd need to follow through with said offer. She'd made it all the way down here on her own, as far as Hattori could tell, but he found it prudent to say it all the same.

He turned then, directing her towards the Bamboo Maze.

The pair had finally made their way down to where Hattori had told him he’d planned to settle, and Raijin couldn’t say he was surprised it was in a giant bamboo maze. It certainly reminded him a bit of home and he felt a pang of something he had no business feeling: homesickness. He had been the one to essentially throw himself out of Iga by trying to assassinate his uncle after the death of his brother and supposed death of his cousin, which turned out to be for naught as the crimson and noire man was alive and well. Even though his childhood hadn’t necessarily been happy, and there was no longer anything keeping him there, the scenery that had welcomed him on his journey into life and the culture that surrounded it would always feel comforting. He found himself surprisingly thankful toward his cousin for bringing that back to them.

He’d told Sedna to go on ahead of him to call on Hattori, because of course he had a plan to properly greet his cousin. The Genji man had gathered up lots of fragrant wildflowers of all kinds into a bouquet, carrying them with a grin in his sabered jaws. He arrived just as the pair had turned, the man letting out a woof of greeting. He jogged a little closer then, with a swing of his head, tossed the flowers into the air so that they rained down onto the Tojo-kai leader. “My thank you gift for taking in my lady and our brood,” he said with a cheeky grin, though he did offer a low, genuine bow of gratitude to Hanzo. Though it might not seem like it at times, Raijin truly did respect his cousin and was thankful to him for everything he did…even if he was a stick in the mud.

"Speech"