Hattori was right to assume something had slipped between the bamboo in the night, settled where it didn't belong. He hadn't even gotten far in his patrol, barely rounded the first barrier of trees and yet the signs were everywhere he looked. Snapped stalks left half chewed were strewn across the path, leaves scattered like confetti, broken up by the round imprint of a fat rump and paw prints. His ears tipped forward as the rustling of leaves drowned out the rain, followed swiftly by a snap and the grinding of teeth. There was only one creature Hattori knew of that ate bamboo and though they weren't particularly known for being as aggressive as their relatives he knew it wasn't going to just leave without a fight.

Stepping up, the black and white form of the bear came into view. It regarded him slowly, still chewing all the while as it stared at Hattori with its beady eyes. Were there more of its kin hidden within the maze or had this large male claimed it all has his own personal snacking ground? It didn't really matter, one or many they'd all be cast out whether they liked it or not.

"Speech"

It was the scent of the large mammal that caught her attention first. Having kept herself busy with routine patrols, Tenshi was not far off when the breeze carried it over to her. Curious, she quickly and silently made her way through the weaving bamboo until signs of the panda were obvious. Bamboo crushed and ripped apart as the beast made its own path through their maze. Just ahead of her, between her and the beady eyes of the bear, stood Hanzo. Unsurprised that the Kaicho had already headed the warning of danger a large male such as this could bring, Tenshi moved up to stand shoulder to shoulder with him. Her steely gaze moved slowly from the animal that crunched on bamboo over to Hanzo. "Will you be taking the lead?" Nearly silent, only heard by the Kaicho himself, Tenshi prepared herself mentally and physically for what would come next. She would be lying if she said she wasn't mildly excited to take on the panda with him. They had sparred yet, and while their paths did not often cross, this was a new opportunity to embrace. Something to instill another sliver of trust between them.

Hattori wasn't too surprised to learn he had help, that someone else had noticed the intruder and intended to play their part. To do what had to be done. He'd seen signs of Tenshi about, had no reason to believe she was up to no good, but hadn't actually spoken to her in quite some time. As long as she kept herself busy and didn't make herself to be a problem then he was content to leave things as they were, for now.

"No you."He told her, wondering how she'd choose to approach the matter. Attack and wound enough to chase off, or kill? Either way he was willing to step back and see her take the lead, see once again in person how wolves of the mountain fought.

A decision did not take long to release from the Kaicho's lips. No, you. Tenshi almost chuckled. Digging her paws into the soft ground beneath them, she nodded. "You just want to watch me work," she flirted openly, more of a joke as one of her blue eyes winked at him. There was no harm in a little fun, right? Meanwhile, the black and white bear continued to munch on the bamboo without a care in the world. He didn't see himself as a threat and apparently, not them either. Moving forward without another word, she calculated the easiest way to take care of the animal. If it was going to continue destroying the maze, it would be better to be done with it for good. A senseless killing didn't really make sense either though. Resolving to attempt to chase it off first, Tenshi grabbed a thick stalk of bamboo and motioned for the Kaicho to follow her lead. Stepping closer to the panda, she began waving the stalk and batting it toward the beast to try and scare it into moving. If they could push it out of the maze, maybe their scent markers would be enough to keep it away for the time being... Unfortunately, the panda refused to move. Even with the bamboo swinging dangerously close to its body, the animal's face merely scrunched into a disgruntled expression. A rumbling growl emitted from its throat as it batted a paw in their direction. Teeth flashing at them in warning, Tenshi pushed the panda's limits. Either it would move on or it would try to fight them.

Hattori blinked. That wasn't true and both of them knew it, but he didn't care to argue further, not when there was work to be done. Following her lead, Hattori soon noticed her approach, forceful and intent but not deadly. Just enough to drive home the message without delivering mortal wounds. He would have taken a similar approach, in all honesty. Some creatures were too dangerous to let live, lest he run the risk of them forming grudges against his kin, but this bamboo eating bear? Well, aside from making a mess and being an unwelcome visitor he saw no reason to view it as a true threat. He imagined it could defend itself if need be, but there was no shame in that.

Watching Tenshi brandish the bamboo, it was evident the bear would need more of a push. Perhaps some snarls and nips would get it to start moving.

"I think you need to do more than that." He uttered, stepping forward as he pressed into the bears personal space. Would it move now?

Hanzo's disgruntled mutter caused her ears to flick back momentarily. The temptation to say something snarky in response made her teeth grind together before she refocused on the task at hand. With Hanzo's added pressure now on the bear, the animal took to standing on its hind legs, a serious expression replacing the previous relaxed one. Stepping closer, Tenshi wasn't going to waste any more time. Taking one more swing at the panda with her bamboo stalk, she heard the loud thwap of it against the bear's side. It dropped its snack and let out a roar as its paws began swiping at them. Well, if it wasn't going to go peacefully, she would have to use force. Dropping her own stalk, she danced out of the way of its swipes, feeling a rush of air as claws nearly sliced her cheek. Pulling back her lips to show her own teeth, she kept her gaze on the black and white creature. Hanzo was smart and capable enough that he would follow her lead or take a seat and watch. Waiting for her next opening as she kept the pressure on the bear, Tenshi lunged forward and nipped at its thigh. The bear stumbled back, nearly losing its balance and landing on all fours. With its rear to them, head turned over its shoulder to grumble some more Tenshi lunged again. Teeth ripping at its haunches and paws seeking to swipe its ankles, the bear picked up its pace finally. Maybe these creatures were not as aggressive as their northern counterparts. Following the bear, as it trampled its way through the maze, she held back once it was close enough to the outer edges of the maze. Watching it take off, Tenshi finally glanced over to Hanzo. "Just needed a little push," she mused with a shrug of her shoulders.

Hattori followed behind, a looming figure as the bear's shadow, ensuring it got the message and did not return. It pressed on through the maze, taking shortcuts that made the Kaicho pause, realise it knew this place better than it should. Maybe it had lived here once, left only to return to a wolf occupation. No wonder it seemed so unwilling to leave at first.

But now it was obvious the beast had no choice, that it would have to find somewhere else to call home. Somewhere else to graze and eat its fill till it' belly was even rounder than it was now.

"Hmm" He agreed, taking note of the gleam in her eyes. "Since you are the one who chased if off, you need to keep an eye for it's return." He was unsure of whether it would, but it was a good idea for Tenshi to be watchful all the same. A task that shouldn't be too difficult.

With the animal sufficiently chased off, Tenshi relaxes with a deep breath. As her gaze moves from Hanzo out to the edges of the maze, one ear turns in his direction to listen. His orders for her to watch for the panda's return would be a simple enough task. "I can handle that much," she replies with a firm nod of her chin. If he wanted to put her on panda watch duty for whatever reason, then so be it. Not that patrolling had been difficult, she had taken a liking to it. When she wasn't tending to her recently started garden, she was seen wandering around the borders. Adding on to make sure she patrolled this area to watch for signs of the panda wouldn't be much to ask. "Is there anything else you need done?" Her tone is serious but also inquisitive. Was running Tojo alone becoming too much? There had been a considerable increase in new members lately and with the pups growing up, there was a lot to consider. Turning her steely gaze back to Hanzo, she wonders if he prefers the solitude or if he would like company for tea or weapon sharpening from time to time. It never hurt to have a friend to fill the silence.

Hattori thought on it for a moment, eyed the mess it had made in its wake. It wasn't overly serious, nothing that couldn't be cleaned up and swept away, but it certainly had traipsed through the forest as though it had owned the place. Well, no more. She questioned if there was anything else she could help with and Hattori, for the most part, considered it to be lip service. They still didn't entirely trust one another yet and there was no rushing such thing easier. Still, he saw no reason to deny her request, not when she was offering a helping paw.

"There is one thing." He began, his voice low and serious. "Have you spoken to Sayuri? what are your thoughts on her?"

Thus far she'd put her best paw forward and kept herself busy, but Hattori wondered what the two newcomers thought of one another. Whether she'd even formed an opinion at all so far.

She was not expecting him to have anything else to say. While the silence had shifted between them as he thought, Tenshi had moved a few steps ahead to begin cleaning up the mess the panda had made. As she reached for a rather crumpled stalk, his words stopped her. Lifting her horned crown, she glanced over her shoulder at him. Sayuri? Was he skeptical of the girl? The thought crossed her mind as her brow furrowed slightly. Turning to fully face Hanzo, she stepped closer so that their conversation would not be overheard by lingering ears. "I have spoken to Sayuri," Tenshi pauses as she thinks of how she wants to curate her response. "She appears to be a hard worker and adapts well, but something about her does seem off," her words are careful as she assesses Hanzo's reaction. He had no reason to believe or trust anything she said, but the simple fact that he was asking meant something. "I believe her to be quite helpful and if she can be trusted, she will be an asset to the pack," the mountain woman stops there because that is all she has on the girl. There was an age difference between her and Sayuri so she didn't see them becoming best friends, but they were capable of working together with ease.

"I see." Was all he said, content to leave it at that. To let her wonder why he'd asked.

He didn't overly mistrust anyone in Tojo, wouldn't have allowed them to join the ranks otherwise, but he thought it prudent to observe and question. Just to make sure, to know all was well beneath the surface. He'd taken a risk allowing new faces to slip into the fold, to step into the Bamboo and learn all its secrets, but thus far he saw no reason to get all cagey about it. To flinch at shadows the moment they moved.

"If you need anything, call for me." It was something he often didn't feel the need to say, but there was no harm in repeating it once. To know he looked out for his own, that his title wasn't just there to make him feel all lofty and important.