((Timing to shortly after the raid???))

Ignatius had left, fucked off somewhere Tsunami did not care. That had been the only thing she'd needed to also fuck off, Kimuy and her leaving the pack lands at the first hint of her cousin's disgusting gaze taken off of her. Nothing could have made her stay and so she didn't, admittedly she did not tell her brother, the last thing she wanted was to be traceable. But the truth was she was weaker than she'd once thought, she had been eating table scraps for a few months since her cousin had kept her captive and she did not make it as far as she'd hoped. So she'd chosen to shelter in the caves, and it had worked at first, she'd been slowly building back up her strength, started hunting for herself, and taking the spoils for herself. That was until she'd been exploring one of the completely dark tunnels and hadn't realized there was a severe dip in the floor, and she'd twisted her ankle really bad. Now she was once more hobbled, this time literally, and was slowly losing her fighting spirit. Tsunami had always been self-sufficient but it was hard to feel motivated when all her life she'd been cut down just as she was on an upswing. Kimuy at least would go out daily to try and find help for her lupine companion, sometimes not returning until the next night. So it was that the small caribou was grazing outside the cave, ears perked for the sound of paws, just in case she could finally find help for Tsunami. "Speech"

Art by Zinderell

Even now Hattori was unsure what to make of Winterfell. It was far too easy to write them off as cowards, hesitant and capricious, unwilling to do whatever needed to be done. But Hattori had seen much of the world, enough to know that things were rarely as simple as they first appeared. One thing Hattori knew for certain; this Winterfell was not the same as the one that had earned Venom's ire long ago. It was simply rotting away in the seclusion north, unknown and irrelevant, with even the biting cold not being enough to ward off its decay.  It was a fate more humiliating than defeat, like a disease of the mind, he almost felt pity for them. Almost. Perhaps the Shogun would return after some time, to see if their scents had grown fainter still. Making his way back south, Hattori skirted around the Fireside territory and wondered when they would return their treatment in kind. He briefly recalled a saying in the common tongue, something about taking an eye for an eye, and dwelled on it for a moment. As callous as it may sound, Hattori was content in making the world blind, stabbing back to prove a point and make it known that Ashen was a force to be reckoned with. Sticking close to the mountain side, Hattori padded along in silence, only to pause when movement caught his eye. Lingering outside some sort of opening in the mountain, a caribou watched him with wide eyes and perked ears. It did not seem to fear him and if anything it seemed more than casually interested in his presence, no doubt used to the company of wolves if the scents that clung to its form were anything to go by. So it was someone's companion then? It felt like a safe assumption. He turned a little, offering the creature more than just a side glance as he faced it proper. "What?" He asked, no charm and all monotone.

Kimuy spotted the speckled man and watched him carefully, conical ears tilted towards him as she chewed slowly. He seemed to notice her and didn't exactly seem pleased, turning to face her head-on and questioning her. The caribou could smell a faint hint of Winterfell on him, though it was fresh and he had another much stronger pack smell under that... though he also appeared to be moving south, likely originating from North of their current position. Better safe than sorry, the last thing either of them wanted was to have Tsunami dragged back by someone. "Do you find it strange that a lone ungulate keep an eye on an animal known to eat her kind?" Her voice was deep, tinged with an accent mostly forgotten but that clung to her vowels still. Tsunami for her part was rousing lightly, her ankle throbbing. She could hear Kimuy outside the cave. The woman groaned, rising to her paws, her harness chafing against her shoulders. She hadn't had the energy to take it off as of late, knowing that if she did and they had to move suddenly taking the time to put it on would just cost her precious seconds, especially with her injured ankle. So instead she slept in it, careful not to destroy the tusk shards along her spine. The woman blinked, lifting her injured paw off the ground, and crept towards the mouth of the cave, pushing herself towards the ground, and thanked whatever gods there might be that her pelt was dark, helping her to blend in with the cave. Cranberry gaze swung around until she spotted... Tsunami stood then, her injured limb held to her chest, no doubt drawing attention to herself as she did, eyes wide as she blinked at the man she'd never thought she'd see again but who'd been her first and to date only, crush. For the first time in some weeks, she let herself feel hope. "Speech"

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Hattori couldn't say he was overly familiar with speaking to herbivores, or even interested in such a thing, but he supposed this one had a point. Snarky comment aside he was content to leave the thing be and didn't even care to spare it a comment in return. Still adorned with all his raiding equipment he was not prepared to drag a creature like that back to Ashen and really there was no point. The raiding party had gathered more than enough to make do for now, any more would be excessive. His gaze wandered from its suspicious form, only for his gaze to snap back to the entryway that laid behind it as something shifted in the dark. It shuffled closer, with their paws dragging against the old cobbled stone. Briefly he noted how the caribou seemed unsurprised, not at all skittish at the new development, leading Hattori to lean back on his initial assumption. Not only was this creature familiar with wolves but it shared the company of one. And then Hattori saw her, a wolf he barely recalled and yet was familiar with all the same. Her name did not spring to mind, he couldn't even say if he'd even learned of it, but he did know that they'd brought down a walrus together. And as if to prove him correct she was wearing a harness lined with tusk shards, no doubt her side of the spoils. Beyond all that, it was clear to see she was in poor shape, with an obvious limp that had her going nowhere fast. Hattori pursed his lips thin, his gaze sharp and unblinking. The Shogun had not changed, but the same could not be said for her. "What happened to you?" Seemed like a reasonable place to start.

Had they shared names? She wasn't sure they had... If so she was also blanking on his name, she wasn't sure she would have called out to him if she did know it. Some part of the woman was ashamed to be found by him in such a state, the first time they'd met she'd been at the top of her game, a young warrior who'd been flourishing... Now? She wasn't really sure what she was. That being said she wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. If he could even slightly help her, get her further from her asshole cousin, his gaze and his grasp, she'd be more than happy to admit to all her shame if need be. "My pack went through a coup, my asshole cousin decided to hold the whole pack hostage, or at least anyone who had the balls to stand up to him. So me. He fucked off somewhere, I don't know and I don't care. I just took it as my time to get out. But then I fucked up my ankle." She held out her injured leg to indicate. She met his gaze, cranberry eyes softening a tiny bit from the anger she'd held while speaking of it all. "Everyone else might be willing to waste away up here but I'm not. Winterfell was my home and it's gone." There was a tinge of sadness to her tone. It had been the only home she'd had since her bitch mother had stolen them away from her father's kingdom... And now she had nowhere else to go. She'd been honest when she'd told her brother she wanted to feel wanted, valued, to belong... That was feeling more and more like a pipe dream. "I just wanted to get as far away as I could," she chuckled bitterly, "but seems I can't outrun my own shit luck." "Speech"

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Hattori listened, silent and intent, as he took in the details. Things were starting to make a little more sense, he knew wolves still dwelled within the borders and that they'd most likely heard his call, but if what the woman said was true then their inaction spoke volumes. Captives made poor warriors, even with all the talent and training in the world it would still never be enough if their heart was not in it. In part, it was why Hattori believed slaves and the like were a waste of resources, he was not so desperate for manpower that he would force people to bend to his will. The thought left a displeasing taste in his mouth, like he'd taken a bite out of rotting meat. As she continued even more questions sprung to mind. Why had the pack simply allowed him to take over without much of a fuss? And why was she the only one who had the nerve to stand up to him? He supposed it didn't matter to him, if the wolves of Winterfell -or whatever it was called now- wished to bury their hands in the snow then so be it. Hattori was many things but he was no saviour, he would not swoop in and fix a mess they refused to deal with themselves. He eyed her leg as she raised it, though he would not say as much he noted her ingenuity, her attempt at taking the incentive even if it meant getting wounded in the process. Some risks were worth taking. "It happens that I am returning south after conducting a raid on your former home. No one heeded our call so we pillaged the lands," as was the victors right. He paused for a moment in thought. "If the pack is as inefficient as you say, I would not be surprised if they starved this coming winter."

Tsunami could not help but wonder what exactly it was that had led to what was left of the pack not even bothering to defend their borders, she felt a twinge of worry for Tyto. True she had not told her brother she would be leaving, she was both unwilling to leave more clues for her cousin to track her down and wanted to spare her brother their cousin's ire, one last attempt to protect him before she finally started putting herself first. She imagined he probably would be hurt by her leaving, assuming that she'd reject him as she had the rest of her family but in truth, it had been the hardest part about leaving. It was true the pack was not her home anymore... But her brother had been the only wolf left in the whole world she'd cared for, and leaving that behind had felt like ripping her heart out... Now she was alone, save for Kimuy, and she had no reason to believe her luck would ever turn around. Tsunami was prepared to be alone for the rest of her life. Or at least that had been the plan until the only wolf she'd ever felt her heart flutter for had suddenly appeared before her. "I am not surprised." She said flatly about the raid on her former home. "Nor do I care." Mostly true, Incendium could waste away for all she cared, but it would hurt to know that Tyto had been hurt by their cousin's gross negligence. Tsunami swallowed hard, she looked at the man, pushing down her pride and the nagging hope he would offer her help. Just as ever in her life if she did not try to save herself she would not be saved. "I know I am hardly in any position to impose but may I enlist your aid?" She couldn't help the heat that rushed to her face, grateful for the dark fur that would obscure her shame. "You've seen my ability to fight and when it's earned my loyalty is not easy to break. These are all things I can offer you when I am in a better condition." She glanced down, her voice breaking for the first time since she'd started talking to the man, the desperation sneaking through. "I don't know if you're even in a position to help, but I won't make it far as is and I can't go back. I want to live, and if I am forced to go back then it will be worse than death. A life destined to waste away, alone in the snow." "Speech"

Art by Zinderell

Hattori had not expected her to ask for help. It did not seem to be in her nature to rely on others, but the weight of her words did not slip by unnoticed. Though he had very little to gain from helping her out he did not make a move to immediately swat aside her request. Selfless was not a word to describe the Shogun, but he took very little pleasure in seeing others suffer, there was no need for her to return to the pack that had held her captive. Even objectively speaking he knew it would be a waste and the less  competent manpower Winterfell had, the better. He was silent in consideration, his pale brows furrowed just so as he cast his gaze to the dark depths behind her. Ultimately, this was not his choice to make. His word carried great weight within Ashen and its Empire, but despite what some might think Hattori was well aware of his place and worth. Bringing her into Ashen's fold was a liability Hattori did not want to risk, but even then he saw no reason to leave her here to rot. "Lean against your caribou and follow me." Hattori told her, his mind made up. "You may rest outside of Ashen's borders till you are well, I will have a medic tend to you in the meanwhile." The borders were patrolled enough that even the surrounding areas beyond their land were safe enough. Very little escaped the Shogun's notice. On technicality alone he could not make her an Ashen wolf,  but that bothered him little. If she wanted her freedom she would have to earn it when able, it was not something Hattori would provide."Once you are well you should consider what you wish to do." The choice was entirely hers, Hattori would not sway or judge her preference.

Tsunami would take what she could get, nodding and gently leaning into Kimuy who came to stand stoically at her side, a low rumble of affection and concern rising from the mini deer. Tsunami shook her head into the caribou's shoulder, a slight movement of reassurance for her friend, the only creature in the whole world she had left. "I am in no position to be picky." She said, her way of saying that she would accept his offer. Then she thought to add one more thing, the last thing she wanted was to appear ungrateful. "Thank you." A place to stay, even if it was outside the protection of a pack, and someone to help her recover. It was more than she really could have hoped for otherwise. "Speech"

Art by Zinderell

Tsunami was quick to accept his offer, but then again she didn't really have a choice, did she? It was either go with him and receive some help, or remain here and get nothing at all. Only a stubborn fool would turn him down and it seemed as though the former wolf of Winterfell had swallowed her pride quite some time ago. Grunting, he accepted her show of gratitude as gracefully as he could muster. In the grand scheme of things it wasn't much, but the fact she gave thanks was appreciated all the same. There was no way of knowing how things would turn out from here on out, but the Shogun was prepared to deal with it as it came. To do whatever was necessary, as always. The trio set off south, their pace slow and steady, so her injury was not aggravated any more than it needed to be.